ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

GM Crops

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the benefits of Bayer GM rice approved by her Department as animal feed on 7 January.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	The application by Bayer for the importation of herbicide tolerant rice (event LLRICE62) into the European Union is being considered under the procedures set out in Directive 2001/18/EC. The Directive requires each application to market GM crops for commercial importation or cultivation to be assessed on a case-by-case basis on the scientific evidence of any risks it may pose to human health or the environment. The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment concluded that, "This GM rice does not pose a risk to human health and the environment. The marketing of this product for importation and processing in the UK will be no different from that of other rice imported for processing and animal feed purposes." No assessment is required or made of comparative advantages with other products. The full UK assessment of Bayer's application is available on the Defra website at: www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/regulation/euconsent.htm.
	The UK is the lead member state on the application and therefore undertakes the initial assessment. The application and the UK's assessment will now be assessed by other EU member states and the Commission before a collective decision is made. Consent, if granted, would not permit cultivation of the rice in the EU nor, without separate approval, could it be used in human food.

GM Crops

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to (a) conduct and (b) commission further research on how GM plants might invade new habitats.

Elliot Morley: The Department has commissioned research on the potential invasiveness of GM crops. An example is "An Investigation of Feral Oilseed Rape Populations" the report of which was published in February 1999. Details of this and other Defra-funded research projects that have included a consideration of the invasiveness of GM crops are available on the Defra website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/research.
	In addition to work funded by the Department there has been a large body of research on the invasiveness of GM and other plants conducted elsewhere. This body of research was recently reviewed by the GM Science Review (details available from www.gmsciencedebate. org.uk). Chapter 6.2 of the their final report specifically considered research on the risks of invasiveness of GM crops.
	The risks of invasiveness of GM crops are carefully assessed prior to any release. The Government's statutory advisers on GM crop releases—the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE)—have advised that in the case of all previous releases, that the risks of invasiveness have been low. This view was supported by the Science Review. However both ACRE and the Science Review highlight the need to continually monitor developments and we are currently considering future research requirements in this area.

GM Crops

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the evaluation of the costs and benefits of the commercial cultivation of GM crops in the UK over the next 10 to 15 years.

Elliot Morley: As part of the GM dialogue the Strategy Unit carried out a study of the costs and benefits of GM crops. This looked at not only the range of GM crops currently available, but also those that might be available in 10–15 years.
	The unit concluded that GM crops could offer some cost and convenience advantages to UK farmers, although any economic benefit is likely to be limited in the short-term as only a narrow range of existing GM crops are currently suited to UK conditions, and weak consumer demand may limit take-up. In the longer term it concluded that future developments in GM crops have the potential to offer more wide-ranging benefits, to both farmers and consumers.

GM Crops

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Government will decide their GM food policy.

Elliot Morley: We are considering our policy on GM food and crops generally in the light of all the information we have gathered. That includes the reports of the public debate and the science review, the Strategy Unit's costs and benefits study, the AEBC's report on coexistence and liability, and now ACRE'S advice on the FSE results. We will set out our conclusions in due course.

Badgers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has evaluated in which badgers have been systematically removed from an area, and the area kept free of badgers, where the incidence of TB in cattle has declined; and what conclusions she drew from this work.

Ben Bradshaw: Four large-scale badger clearances have been carried out, at Thornbury in Avon (104 sq km), at Steeple Leaze in Dorset (12 sq km), at Hartland in North Devon (about 62 sq km) and in an area of East Offaly in the Irish Republic (738 sq km). All four clearances were followed by a reduction in the incidence of TB in cattle.
	However, none of the previous TB control strategies that involved badger culling have been assessed in a properly designed experiment to establish their efficacy. While removal operations may have had an effect on the prevalence of TB in badgers and on herd breakdowns, other factors may also have influenced these. In the absence of scientific controls, it is not possible to separate out the effects of badger removal from these confounding factors.
	A complete assessment of previous TB control strategies can be found in the 1997 Report on Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers by Professor John Krebs and the Independent Scientific Review Group (the "Krebs Report"), available in the House Library.

Badgers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the resources necessary to ensure that a given area is cleared and kept free of badgers, with particular reference to (a) number of visits and (b) personnel employed;
	(2)  what (a) financial and (b) human resources are allocated to the (i) clearance of badgers and (ii) the maintenance of badger-free areas in the Krebs proactive areas.

Ben Bradshaw: As part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT), ten areas are subject to "proactive" treatment. As many badgers as possible within the design of the trial are culled in these areas (each approximately 100 sq km) and badger numbers are kept as low as possible. After the initial cull, the work involves an annual re-survey and cull of all proactive areas. However, the human resources for "proactive" work cannot be separately identified, except at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the costs of trapping as a "proactive" culling method in the RBCT cannot be used to assess the resources required to clear an area of badgers, because this would require the use of snares, poisoning or gassing which have been ruled out by the Government on welfare grounds. The RBCT clears as many badgers as possible from proactive areas using cage traps, but this removes, at best, 80 per cent. of badgers.
	The average number of field staff employed by the Veterinary Directorate Wildlife Unit for field operations in the RBCT and the associated costs by financial year are given in the following table:
	
		WLU Field Staff and Costs
		
			 Year Number of Field Staff Total cost of Wildlife Unit(£ million)  
		
		
			 1998–1999 62 2.9 
			 1999–2000 90 4.2 
			 2000–2001 110 5.5 
			 2001–2002 136 5.5 
			 2002–2003 127 5.6 
			 2003–2004(1) 133 6.8 
		
	
	(1) projected
	For most of 2001, field staff were reassigned to dealing with the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. Over the first three years of the Trial, contracts to carry out initial Triplet surveying were negotiated with the Central Science Laboratory and ADAS and additionally small numbers of staff were deployed from elsewhere in the Department to support major proactive cull operations. Badger culling, however, is always carried out by Wildlife Unit personnel.

Carbon Trust

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to assess the effectiveness of the enhanced capital allowances scheme managed by the Carbon Trust; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	On behalf of Defra the Carbon Trust are carrying out an Impact Assessment of the Enhanced Capital Allowance for energy-saving technologies. Defra and the Carbon Trust will use the results of the assessment to consider further promotion of the scheme to ensure that it has the greatest possible impact.

Common Agricultural Policy

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with EU Ministers in connection with the Common Agricultural Policy since the Agriculture Council in June 2003.

Alun Michael: Since June last year, the Common Agricultural Policy has been on the agenda at several of the monthly meetings of the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, or her ministerial colleagues have attended. At its September meeting, agreement was reached on the Council Regulation implementing the June reform agreement. Since then, there has been discussion of the European Commission's proposals for further reform of the CAP, covering the cotton, tobacco, olive oil and hops sectors and of options for reforming the sugar regime.
	In addition, my right hon. Friend discussed CAP reform with the Irish Agriculture Minister in November as part of his preparations for Ireland's presidency of the European Union. Agriculture was also a major issue at the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun in September at which my right hon. Friend discussed the June agreement and future CAP reform with her EU colleagues.

Common Agricultural Policy

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with colleagues in the Department for International Development in connection with the development implications of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Alun Michael: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, has regular meetings with her colleagues from other Departments, including the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss issues relating to the current World Trade Organisation negotiations. These discussions encompass the relationship between development and CAP reform.

Flood Defence Plan (Cheltenham)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the (a) advantages and (b) disadvantages of the proposed flood defence plan for Cheltenham.

Elliot Morley: Defra agreed the Environment Agency's strategic approach to flood management measures for Cheltenham in 1999 and has since provided grant to the Agency for the first three phases of works. Defra is currently considering the Agency's application for grant on the detailed proposals on the remaining four phases of works but in any event the commencement of works must necessarily await the outcome of the Agency's application for planning permission for these works. I understand that the Agency's proposals would reduce the risk of flooding to over 600 properties and provide environmental and amenity benefits. I also understand that there are local concerns about disruption during construction, the removal of trees (although a major planting scheme is planned in mitigation) and a change in the use that could be made of an area identified by the Agency as a flood storage area. It will be for the planning authority to reach a view on the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed works in the first instance.

US Ships (Decommissioning)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the purpose was of the meeting held on 7 January, involving the Environment Minister, at which ghost ships were discussed; who requested the meeting; what factors were taken into account before the Minister agreed to meet representatives of Able UK Ltd.; what the outcome of the meeting was; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	I met the right hon. Member for Hartlepool (Mr Mandelson), at his request, with the Mayor and Chief Executive of Hartlepool Borough Council and the Chief Executive of Able UK. The meeting agreed that the issue of the US Ships in Hartlepool is a matter for the regulatory bodies—in particular, the Environment Agency and the local planning authority. The meeting enabled the participants to understand the respective responsibilities of the bodies involved, and to help ensure that all the necessary procedures are followed.

US Ships (Decommissioning)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Environment Minister will agree to meet a delegation representing groups and individuals opposed to the proposed dismantling of US ghost ships in Hartlepool.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	I am always happy to consider requests to meet local delegations from the relevant Member of Parliament. I recently met my right hon. Friend the Member for Hartlepool (Mr. Mandelson), along with Mayor of Hartlepool and others, to discuss the US ships.

Joint Environmental Markets Unit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total cost to public funds was of the Joint Environmental Markets Unit in each of the past 10 years; and what the total value is of waste management contracts which British companies have secured overseas as a direct result of the activity of the Joint Environmental Markets Unit in each of these years.

Elliot Morley: JEMU is a joint unit between DEFRA and DTI. JEMU provide support for the environmental goods and services industry, of which waste management is a sub sector. The total public funds (from both departments) spent on the Joint Environmental Markets Unit over the past 10 years are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Total budgets (£000) 
		
		
			 1993–94 (2)488 
			 1994–95 (2)819 
			 1995–96 (2)1,032 
			 1996–97 (2)990 
			 1997–98 (2)1,133 
			 1998–99 (2)1,046 
			 1999–2000 (2)1,026 
			 2000–01 (2)1,305 
			 2001–02 (2)1,254 
			 2002–03 1,333 
			 2003–04 (Year's allocation) 1,404 
		
	
	(2) These figures are an estimate based on available records.
	JEMU targets its international trade work at developing markets, where it can add most value. JEMU has worked with other parts of Defra and the Environment Agency to promote UK Environmental Policy as a means of marketing UK expertise. Relationships in these countries take time and persistence to develop and contracts can take several years to be finalised. JEMU is aware of at least two waste management companies who, in recent years, have won contracts totalling in excess of £5 million as a direct result of JEMU work. Feedback from waste companies, who participated in a JEMU trade mission to SE Asia last March, has also forecasted total potential business of £63 million over the next three years. JEMU introduced a systematic method of monitoring performance recently, and will be evaluating the results of this carefully.

Large Combustion Plant Directive

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has commissioned into the economic effects of the introduction of the Large Combustion Plant Directive on the United Kingdom coal industry.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 20 January 2004
	We are continuing to assess the potential economic impact of the introduction of the Directive on the UK coal industry, and on the coal-fired electricity generating industry which is its major market, using both internal analyses and independent research. We are also in detailed dialogue with these industries to help us to understand their views.

Livestock Farming

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recovery of livestock farming in (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Other than the June annual Agricultural Census, which among other things records the number of animals present on holdings on the designated census day, no specific assessment has been made of the recovery of livestock farming in Chorley and Lancashire. Data from the Agricultural Census 1 show the following:
	1 June 2003 data is expected to be published in March.
	
		
			  Chorley Lancashire 
		
		
			 Sheep and Lambs   
			 2000 35,337 776,586 
			 2001 31,502 703,205 
			 2002 29,887 656,886 
			
			 Cattle and Calves   
			 2000 14,941 250,038 
			 2001 15,435 245,617 
			 2002 14,676 227,990 
			
			 Pigs   
			 2000 6,369 113,640 
			 2001 6,184 100,845 
			 2002 4,685 94,048

Milk

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total supermarket share of the (a) liquid milk and (b) cheese market was in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: The supermarket share of the biggest four supermarkets (Asda, Safeways, Sainsburys and Tesco) of liquid milk in 2001–02 was 36 per cent. If smaller supermarkets are included (excluding town centre and local shops) the share rises to 48 per cent. The corresponding market shares for cheese are 64 per cent. for the big four and 80 per cent for all supermarkets. Figures are from the Expenditure and Food Survey and are only available for the twelve month period ending in March 2002.

Milk

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the outcome of the retail price initiatives on liquid milk and cheese during the last three years.

Alun Michael: The evolution of farmgate and retail prices over the last three years is tabulated below. Last year, in a Milk Development Council commissioned study by KPMG on "Prices and Profitability in the British Dairy Chain", London Economics undertook an econometric study of various aspects of the supply chain, including price transmission. For the UK, London Economics found that increases and decreases in retail prices for liquid milk are fully transmitted to farmgate prices with a lag of five months. However, price changes at farmgate level are not fully transmitted. A 1 unit increase in farmgate price results in a 0.56 unit increase in retail price, while a 1 unit decrease in farmgate prices results in a 0.71 unit decrease in retail price. For cheese they found no transmission and for butter they found some evidence that a fall in the farmgate price of milk resulted in an increase in the butter price.
	
		Farmgate/Retail Milk Price Comparison July 2000—November 2003
		
			 Year Farmgate pence per pint Retail(3) penceper pint 
		
		
			 November 2000 10.57 35 
			 December 2000 10.38 35 
			 January 2001 10.41 35 
			 February 2001 10.33 36 
			 March 2001 10.16 36 
			 April 2001 10.48 36 
			 May-2001 10.17 37 
			 June 2001 10.63 37 
			 July 2001 11.62 37 
			 August 2001 11.85 37 
			 September 2001 11.76 37 
			 October 2001 11.63 37 
			 November 2001 11.39 37 
			 December 2001 11.14 37 
			 January 2002 10.68 37 
			 February 2002 10.40 36 
			 March 2002 10.23 36 
			 April 2002 9.09 36 
			 May 2002 8.45 36 
			 June 2002 8.73 36 
			 July 2002 9.42 36 
			 August 2002 9.66 36 
			 September 2002 9.73 36 
			 October 2002 10.31 37 
			 November 2002 10.29 37 
			 December 2002 10.09 37 
			 January 2003 10.05 37 
			 February 2003 10.03 36 
			 March 2003 9.88 36 
			 April 2003 9.57 36 
			 May 2003 9.09 36 
			 June 2003 9.39 36 
			 July 2003 10.35 37 
			 August 2003 10.77 37 
			 September 2003 10.94 37 
			 October 2003 11.14 37 
			 November 2003 11.17 37 
		
	
	(3) The retail price is an average of one pint of delivered milk and one pint of shop bought milk. Because most milk is shop bought this overstates what is actually paid per pint by most consumers.
	Source
	Defra/National Statistics

Municipal Waste

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the application by the Department for a derogation for (a) 2006, (b) 2009 and (c) 2016 on the biodegradable municipal waste diversion targets of the Landfill Directive.

Elliot Morley: Article 5.2 of the Landfill Directive lays down demanding targets for reducing the amount of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill and the timescale for achieving those targets. The targets require the quantity of biodegradable municipal waste going to landfill to be reduced to 75 per cent. of the total amount (by weight) of such waste produced in 1995 by 2006; to 50 per cent. by 2009; and to 35 per cent. by 2016.
	For those member states (like the UK) which landfilled more than 80 per cent. of their municipal waste in 1995, the Directive contains a derogation permitting a delay to the target dates by up to four years i.e. to 2010, 2013 and 2020. If a member state intends to take advantage of this derogation, there is an obligation on it to inform the Commission in advance. The UK will meet that obligation by informing the Commission at least a year in advance if it intends to make use of the derogation for a target year. As was made clear in the recent consultation, planning for the Landfill Allowances Trading Scheme assumes that the derogation will be used for all three target years.

Pollution Prevention

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to require companies storing oil to undertake environmental risk assessments.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	There are no plans to require this. However, a full assessment of a company's site to identify potential sources of pollution and the development of a plan to minimise these risks is a central recommendation in the Environment Agency's Pollution Prevention Guidance on Industrial Sites (PPG11).

Pollution Prevention

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to place the Environment Agency's pollution prevention guidelines on a statutory footing; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	There are currently 27 Pollution Prevention Guidelines jointly published by the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Environment & Heritage Service for Northern Ireland. These establish best practice for the prevention of pollution for a wide range of sectors and activities. Where appropriate, statutory codes of practice may refer to the standards set in the Pollution Prevention Guidelines. There are no plans at present to change the status of the Guidelines themselves.

Pollution Prevention

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the Oil Storage Regulations to cover (a) domestic and agricultural waste oil and (b) underground oil storage tanks.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	There are no current plans to extend the regulations. Separate regulations are already in place for agricultural fuel oil, waste oil storage is subject to waste regulation controls and statutory guidance is in place for underground oil storage. Large domestic storage tanks are already included in the Oil Storage Regulations and all new domestic installations are now subject to control under building regulations.

Pollution Prevention

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to establish a targeted inspection and enforcement regime in connection with the Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) 2001 Regulations; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 January 2004
	The Regulations are enforced by the Environment Agency and apply minimum prescriptive standards on a blanket basis to all premises storing oil in above ground fixed or mobile tanks or facilities. There are no plans to change the Agency's approach to enforcement which is explained in the Defra guidance note which accompanied the Regulations. The Legislative background in that Guidance states that the Environment Agency will not need to make a special visit to individual sites to assess risks, but will enforce the regulations during routine visits and thus reduce resource burdens.

Prosecutions

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions are pending in the (a) Foot and Mouth Department, (b) Forestry Commission, (c) Environment Agency and (d) IACS Payment Department.

Alun Michael: The information requested is as follows.
	(a) None by Defra.
	(b) Nine prosecutions are currently listed before the Magistrates Courts.
	(c) Three hundred and sixty five prosecutions are currently listed before the Courts (based on information provided by the Environment Agency).
	(d) Five prosecutions in relation to cases investigated by the Rural Payments Agency are currently listed before the Courts.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Civil Service (Disablities)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set out the number of employees in her Department who have a disability, broken down by disability type.

Richard Caborn: Data on disability is collected on the basis of voluntary self-classification. The Department currently employs 12 people declaring a disability. The Department's Code of Practice on Equal Opportunities Monitoring prevents us from disclosing data for individual groups fewer than five. This is also in accordance with exemption 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Historic Buildings

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support her Department provides for the maintenance of historic buildings; what plans she has to increase this support; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport's financial support for the maintenance of historic buildings is channelled through English Heritage, which received a baseline grant-in-aid allocation of £115.4 million in 2002–03. English Heritage's baseline grant-in-aid for 2003–04 and 2004–05 is £121.7 million. Funding for English Heritage beyond 2004–05 is currently under consideration.
	In addition, Lottery funding is available for repairs to historic buildings through the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has a joint grant scheme with English Heritage for repairs to listed places of worship.
	This Department also administers the Treasury's Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which has provided £16.6 million of grants towards the cost of repairs to listed places of worship since December 2001. The Scheme is expected to continue until March 2006.

TRANSPORT

A40 (Cheltenham)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to carry out a review of the new traffic arrangements on the A40 at the Charlton Kings Sixways Junction in Cheltenham; and in what form he would like submissions to the review.

David Jamieson: The next review of the scheme is due in September 2004. This will be a formal Road Safety Audit. There is no statutory or formal consultation as part of this process but the Highways Agency would welcome feedback from local people about the scheme.

A565

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money Sefton council received on transference of ownership of the A565 from the Highways Agency; and how much it will receive on an annual basis.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency has a programme for handing over responsibility (known as detrunking) for the A565 trunk road to Sefton borough council on 1 April 2004. The statutory process to enable detrunking to proceed is currently ongoing, and includes negotiations with the council. A Grant, calculated to be in the region of £600,000, will be awarded based on a formula for maintenance expenditure. This Grant, uprated for inflation, will be paid in the 2004–05 financial year and will continue until detrunked roads are included in the Highways Maintenance Formula Spending Share.

Air Transport

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what representations he has received from the National Air Traffic Service on the need for them to validate capacity forecasts contained in the White Paper on The Future of Air Transport;
	(2)  whether he has commissioned the National Air Traffic Service to validate the capacity forecasts contained in the White Paper on The Future of Air Transport.

Alistair Darling: National Air Traffic Services responded to the consultation exercises carried out prior to the publication of The Future of Air Transport, but have not made any representations to the Government since the White Paper was published. Air Traffic Management is an essential part of the Aviation White Paper strategy and NATS will have a key role in delivering it.

Car Insurance

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road accidents there were in each region of England in each of the last five years involving a driver or drivers who were uninsured; and what percentage of those accidents involved (a) third party personal injury and (b) third party property damage.

David Jamieson: holding answer 21 January 2004
	Information on the insurance status of drivers involved in accidents is not held centrally in my department.
	However, the Motor Insurers' Bureau (Mffi) holds figures for accident claims in the United Kingdom involving uninsured or untraced drivers. For the past five years, the MIB paid claims as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999 173 
			 2000 213 
			 2001 222 
			 2002 214 
			 2003 235

Car Insurance

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the overall cost to public funds in the latest year for which figures are available of driving without adequate insurance cover.

David Jamieson: holding answer 21 January 2004
	Information on the overall cost to public funds of driving without adequate insurance cover is not held centrally.
	The main costs of uninsured driving will be the substantial ones arising from accidents involving uninsured drivers. In the public sector these costs will fall on the emergency services (police, fire, ambulance and hospitals). Costs will also fall on the victims, and (through increased insurance premiums) on the honest, insured motorist. The estimated cost to the honest motorists1 insurance premium is an average of £30.
	There will also be a cost to the Courts Service arising from the need to prosecute and to enforce fines and penalties.

Coastguard Service

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of the Coastguard Service work in Wales; and how many worked in Wales in 1996.

David Jamieson: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency currently employs 90 Coastguards in Wales. There are also 476 Auxiliary Coastguards based in Wales.
	Due to a change in Human Resource systems, there are no exact figures for 1996. However, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency estimates that there were 60 Coastguards and 500 Auxiliary Coastguards in Wales at that time.

Hemsworth Bypass-A1 Link Road

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to (a) commence and (b) be completed on the link road between the Hemsworth bypass and the A1; how much funding he has made available for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: This scheme is awaiting the completion of the necessary statutory procedures. We confirmed in the 2004–05 Local Transport Capital Expenditure Settlement, announced last month, that we would provide sufficient resources for completion of the scheme up to a maximum of £11.261 million. However, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council recently notified us of a cost increase of £9.337 million over and above this agreed contribution. I cannot make a decision on the case for additional funding until the statutory procedures have been completed.

Road Network

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the (a) motorway and (b) dual carriage network has raised central reservation barriers to eliminate the glare of headlights from oncoming traffic.

David Jamieson: There are no recorded examples on the English dual carriageway trunk road or motorway network where the central reserve barriers have been raised to eliminate the glare of headlights from oncoming traffic.
	A trial of an anti-glare device attached to central reservation barrier has been undertaken on an English motorway but this proved to be ineffective in reducing accidents.

Speed Cameras (Essex)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 6 January 2004, Official Report, column 215W, how much of the money raised in fines from speed cameras in Essex was spent in Essex on the costs of purchasing and operating speed cameras for each of the five years prior to 2001–02.

David Jamieson: holding answer 20 January 2004
	Before the safety camera netting off trial began in April 2000 money raised in fines was retained by the Treasury and the cost of placing and maintaining cameras met by local authorities. The money claimed back by the Essex Safety Camera Partnership to meet the cost of operating cameras for the financial year of 2000–01 was £1,846,480.

Vale Link Community Transport Scheme

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure the long-term future of the Thornbury-based Vale Link Community Transport scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Vale Link Community Transport was awarded funding of £612,000 from the Department's Rural Bus Challenge (RBC) competition in 1998. The long-term future of the scheme is primarily a matter for the local authority and the other local organisations concerned to consider.
	We have taken a number of steps to support community transport schemes. From May 2002 many community transport organisations are eligible to receive Bus Service Operators Grant and I understand Vale Link Community Transport is in receipt of this grant. We have also extended Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, of which South Gloucestershire has been allocated £285,000 this year, to enable authorities to use it for the further support of schemes that have previously received RBC funding. However, it is essentially for individual authorities to decide which services are most appropriate for support in their respective areas.

Waterborne Freight

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to increase the percentage of waterborne freight on UK flagged ships.

David Jamieson: Freight Facilities Grants are available to encourage the carriage of freight by inland waterways, coastal and short sea shipping. Freight Facilities Grants are non-flag specific.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Child Care

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Minister for Women what representations she has received on the barriers to women working due to the lack of high-quality child care provision.

Patricia Hewitt: My postbag leaves me in no doubt about how much high quality childcare provision gives real choices to women. This is why I welcome the announcements by the Chancellor in his Pre- Budget Report on record spending on childcare.

Government Departments (Gender Balance)

Tom Brake: To ask the Minister for Women what recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues about gender balance within Government Departments.

Jacqui Smith: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Women is holding a series of meetings with ministerial colleagues to review progress on gender balance in Government Departments.

Women Entrepreneurs

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask Minister for Women what action she is taking to help women entrepreneurs.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are now actively implementing the Strategic Framework for Women's Enterprise which was launched in May last year, to provide a co-ordinated and long-term approach to the development of women's enterprise.
	We are now working with many partners nationally and in the regions to take forward the recommendations of the Framework. And we continue to work productively with women's enterprise organisations such as PROWESS and Everywoman.
	We are encouraged by the findings on women's enterprise of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's most recent report which finds levels of total female entrepreneurship in the UK having risen from 3.3 per cent. in 2002 to 3.8 per cent. in 2003 and female attitudes to start-up having become far more positive during the last year.
	Early reports from the regions suggest levels of women's enterprise are rising; although it is still early days, it encouraging to hear of real progress being made in the north east, East Midlands and the south east.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Manufacturing Industry

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on manufacturing industry in England.

Jacqui Smith: Having put in place the first Government manufacturing strategy for 30 years with the active support of industry and unions, we are making good progress in addressing the key factors for manufacturing success identified in that strategy-promoting investment, applying science and innovation, best practice and skills to achieving more high value manufacturing.

Post Office

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of the sum allocated for improvements to urban post offices under the urban reinvention programme has been applied for.

Stephen Timms: To date, my Department has paid £5,448,897 to Post Office Ltd. under the urban reinvention programme for investment grant funding. This includes an element of pre-funding to the company to facilitate prompt payments to sub-postmasters. I understand from Post Office Ltd. that the total number of applications submitted by sub-postmasters so far is 485, with further cases under discussion with individual sub-postmasters. Of these applications, 98 grants, totalling £506,934, had been paid in full as at 20 January 2004.

Post Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-postmasters of (a) rural and (b) urban post offices in each constituency have applied for compensation to close their business; how many have been successful in their application; and how much has been paid to them to date.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 12 January 2004
	Decisions on compensation to sub-postmasters are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Post Office

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 14 January 2004, Official Report, column 796W, on benefit payments (pensioners), if she will publish the figures used by the Post Office to justify the proposed closure of (a) Belgrave Branch, 326 Wilnecote Lane, Belgrave, Tamworth, (b) Dosthill Branch, 49 High Street, Dosthill, Tamworth, (c) Kerria Road Branch, Kerria Centre, 34 Kerria Road, Tamworth, (d) Hockley Branch, 158 Hockley Road, Wilnecote, Tamworth, (e) Kettlebrook Branch, 134 Kettlebrook Road, Tamworth, (f) Silver Link Branch, 66 Caledonian, Tamworth, (g) Two Gates Branch, 1 Springfield Road, Two Gates, Tamworth and (i) Wilnecote Branch, 80 Watling Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth.

Stephen Timms: Decisions on proposed closures of post offices are an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I understand that the figures used by POL in proposing the closure of a post office are commercially confidential.

North Sea Oil

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has conducted into the use of carbon capture technology to enhance recovery of North sea oil.

Stephen Timms: The Department has conducted its own research and sponsored research jointly with the oil industry since the mid 1980's into the use of carbon dioxide injection into mature oil fields to recover more oil. We are currently investigating the feasibility of demonstrating the use of carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery in the North Sea. We expect to publish the findings of this investigation in March.

Shipbuilding

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support she is providing to the shipbuilding industry.

Jacqui Smith: The Department gave a £2.8 million grant to the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association for a four-year programme of productivity improvements and research and development benefiting shipyards, which concluded on 31 December 2003. Separately, my Department is funding the Science, Engineering and Marine Training Agency (SEMTA) to undertake a range of studies into training needs and provision in the shipbuilding industry, with the aim of ensuring that the UK shipbuilding and marine engineering sector has sufficient numbers of properly skilled people to meet the Ministry of Defence's substantial naval procurement programme.

Electricity Prices

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to facilitate the connection to the national electricity grid at affordable prices of potential consumers living in remote areas.

Stephen Timms: I have no such plans.
	Connections for those in remote areas are generally more difficult and this is, unfortunately, reflected in the cost. There are no provisions in existing legislation which could be used to require the cost of connection to be subsidised by, for example, the existing customer base.

Natural Gas

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research her Department has carried out into the availability of natural gas worldwide.

Stephen Timms: DTI uses information on natural gas availability from a variety of sources including the International Energy Agency, the Energy Information Agency of the US Department of Energy and the BP-Amoco Statistical Digest.

World Trade

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's policy towards trade negotiations following the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun.

Mike O'Brien: Her Majesty's Government remains committed to delivering a development Round that will benefit industrialised and developing countries alike.

Financial Services

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the number of financial services jobs being exported to (a) Eastern Europe and (b) Asia.

Patricia Hewitt: We do not have official figures for the number of financial services jobs being offshored. We are addressing this issue through seeking views from parties interested in offshoring as part of our consultation exercise. In recognising the economic and social importance of this issue, we are also looking at how we can improve data collection.

Altran Foundation for Innovation

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to inform (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities of the Altran Foundation for Innovation's award for 2004 on the theme of Discovery, Understanding and Enjoying Science through innovation.

Patricia Hewitt: I understand that Ecsite-UK, the organisation that represents Science Centres, has details of this award on its websites.

Business Starts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which inter-ministerial group is responsible for the English equivalent of the Scottish Business Birthrate Strategy; and which ministers are members of that group.

Nigel Griffiths: Responsibility for small business policy, including start-up strategy, is a matter for the Ministerial Committee on Economic Affairs, Productivity and Competitiveness. The members are:
	Chancellor of the Exchequer (Chair)
	Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State
	Secretary of State for the Home Department
	Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland
	Secretary of State for Health
	Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
	Secretary of State for Defence
	Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
	Leader of the House of Lords and The Lord President of the Council
	Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
	Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
	Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Chief Whip
	Secretary of State for Education and Skills
	Chief Secretary, Treasury
	Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Secretary of State for Wales
	Minister without Portfolio
	Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
	Minister for State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mike O'Brien)

Business Links

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses have been helped by each of the UK business link organisations; what the average sum of money received by these businesses is; how many of the businesses helped are still operating; and how many of those businesses have increased their profitability.

Nigel Griffiths: In the last full operating year (2002–03) over 300,000 businesses were helped by Business Link Operators (BLOs) in England. A breakdown of this total–by individual BLO—follows. Information about business survival rates are not collected individually.
	BLOs do not report on levels of support funding received by the businesses they assist.
	A Gross Value Added measure to enable BLOs to quantify—in terms of wealth creation and productivity improvements—the impact of their support to businesses will be available from 2004.
	County Durham—2,834
	Northumberland—2,438
	Tees Valley—3,718
	Tyne and Wear—4,685
	Cheshire and Warrington—6,642
	Cumbria—4,428
	East .Lancashire—3,187
	Manchester—11,540
	Merseyside—6,286
	North and West Lancashire—6,435
	North Manchester—5,445
	Humberside—8,817
	North Yorkshire—9,231
	South Yorkshire—5,511
	West Yorkshire—12,335
	Derbyshire—4,631
	Leicestershire—4,409
	Lincolnshire and Rutland—4,720
	Northamptonshire—3,186
	Nottinghamshire—5,592
	Birmingham and Solihull—8,149
	Black Country—5,365
	Coventry and Warwickshire—5,377
	Hereford and Worcestershire—8,489
	Shropshire—3,074
	Staffordshire—6,666
	Bedfordshire—2,400
	Cambridgeshire—3,223
	Essex—8,655
	Hertfordshire—7,281
	Norfolk—3,981
	Suffolk—4,423
	London—32,730
	Kent—10,465
	Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire—10,542
	Surrey—12,199
	Sussex—9,446
	Wessex—15,511
	Berkshire—6,827
	Devon and Cornwall—9,157
	Gloucestershire—4,357
	Somerset—3,047
	West—7,132
	Wiltshire—5,099
	Total—309,665

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the impact that (a) regional venture capital funds have had on (i) the overall productivity of United Kingdom businesses and (ii) reducing disparities in regional productivity, (b) Faraday centres have had on enterprise areas, (c) University Challenge Seed Funds and (d) the SMART scheme.

Jacqui Smith: The nine regional venture capital funds have only recently become operational. The first funds became operational in January 2002 and the final fund in July 2003. These funds have a 10 to 12 year lifespan and it is, therefore, too early to assess their impact on the areas you have identified. Plans are already in hand, to assess their impact at the appropriate time.
	An early evaluation, to measure progress, was concluded in July 2003 and a summary report can be found on the following website address: http://www. sbs.gov.uk/content/finance/SBS RVCF Esummary july2003.pdf

Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) actual and (b) percentage change in the take-up of connectivity technologies among the UK's micro and small businesses was in each year since 1997; and what steps are being taken to increase take-up.

Stephen Timms: Measurement of take up of connectivity is covered by the DTIs International Benchmarking Study (IBS). The IBS has been produced annually since 1997 and copies are available from the Libraries of the House.
	IBS 2003 shows UK businesses in general have reached saturation point on internet access although there has been a slight falling off in connection by micro and small businesses. A similar situation applies to the use of websites.
	The Government will continue to promote the benefits of being connected to the internet for micro and small businesses but emphasis will be placed on encouraging a more effective use of information and communication technology (ICT). Businesses of all sizes need to use ICT in a more sophisticated way, paying due attention to people and processes, as well as the technology, if they are to gain the expected benefits.

Information and Communications Technology

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of employees in the information and communication technology sector are women; and what steps are being taken to increase the representation of women in the sector.

Patricia Hewitt: The proportion of women in ITEC occupations across all sectors is currently 23 per cent. (e-skills UK and ONS, Labour Force Survey 2002).
	As part of the Government's strategy the DTI announced in December the award of a contract to the JIVE Consortium (Bradford College, Sheffield Hallam University, the Open University and Cambridge University) to operate a new resource centre for women in science, engineering and technology (SET) occupations, which include IT. JIVE will offer advice and support to SET employers about best practice in recruiting and retaining women and also support and advice for women wishing to work in or already working in SET occupations. This strategy is aimed at increasing the representation of women in all SET occupations at all levels, and will include the provision of a dynamic and content-rich website; good practice guides for SET employers; a 'Good SET Employer' recognition for women wishing to return to SET occupations. Working with their Open University partners JIVE are developing specific ideas about increasing the number of women in IT. Bradford College already trains women to be Microsoft professionals and their experience in this field will be invaluable in ensuring that the new resource centre is effective.

Miners' Compensation/Pensions

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims there have been for (a) chronic pulmonary emphysema and (b) vibration white finger in the Easington constituency; how many have been settled; and what amount of compensation has been paid to date.

Nigel Griffiths: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  COPD VWF 
		
		
			 Claims received (number) 8,098 5,607 
			 Interim payments made (number) 2,012 3,764 
			 Full and final offers made (number) 3,541 2,218 
			 Offers accepted (number) 2,466 1,918 
			 Total amount paid (£ million) 24.4 38.4 
		
	
	Constituency figures can be found on the DTI website: www.dti.gov.uk/coalhealth. The information is compiled in the middle of the month and shows the figures for the end of the previous month.

Miners' Compensation/Pensions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vibration white finger cases the Government have referred to the Vibration Reference Panel; and on what date the Vibration Reference Panel was set up.

Nigel Griffiths: Three cases.
	The VRP was set up on 1 September 2002.

Miners' Compensation/Pensions

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how much the Government have charged the (a) Miners Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme for their role as guarantors in each of the last six years;
	(2)  how much the Government intend to charge the (a) Miners Pension Scheme and (b) British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme in April for their role as guarantors.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government do not charge for providing the guarantee for the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme or the British Coal Superannuation Scheme.
	The Government guarantee that members' basic pensions as at the time of privatisation will always rise in line with inflation, irrespective of underlying economic conditions.
	Any surpluses from the guaranteed fund are shared between the Government and the schemes.

Procurement (Outsourcing)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on her Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether her Department is outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies; to which countries her Department has outsourced these jobs; how much her Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Patricia Hewitt: The DTI does not have a specific procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing. In all procurements, the DTI always seeks to achieve best value for money, having due regard to propriety, regularity and the European procurement directives.
	The DTI is not outsourcing IT and call centre jobs to offshore companies.

Renewable Energy (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list windfarm sites in operation in Cambridgeshire, giving their (a) location and (b) output in kW hours.

Stephen Timms: As far as I am aware there are currently only two operational windfarms in Cambridgeshire. These are both single turbine facilities.
	A 225 kW turbine operated by Fivestone Ltd. commissioned in September 1990 is located at Kings Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, Huntingdon.
	A 225 kW turbine operated by Wood Green Animal Shelters, commissioned in October 1993, is located adjacent to Priory Produce, St. Mary's Road, Ramsey.
	Energy output in kWh on a site by site basis cannot be provided due to confidentiality undertakings between the site owners and Ofgem, for sites eligible under the Renewables Obligation.

Renewable Energy (Cambridgeshire)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of electricity generated in Cambridgeshire was from renewable sources in each of the past five years.

Stephen Timms: Statistics for electricity generation are not available at county level. This is because such data would disclose information about individual private companies. Out of the 11.4 MWh of electricity generated from renewable sources in 2002, 1.3 MWh (11 per cent.) was generated in the east of England region that includes Cambridgeshire.

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in (i) her Department and (ii) departmental agencies in the last 12 months.

Patricia Hewitt: 129 staff passes have been reported lost by DTI staff in the past twelve months.
	The respective figure for agencies is 75.
	Neither DTI nor its agencies hold figures for stolen passes.

Small Business

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of small business failures in the East of England; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: VAT registrations and de-registrations and insolvency statistics are the best official guide to the number of business success or failures.
	There were 17,190 VAT de-registrations during 2002 in the East of England, which was 470 less than those registering for VAT during the same year. There have been more registrations than de-registrations in the East of England each year from 1995 to 2002.
	The number of company insolvencies in the East of England area also fell between 1999–2000 and 2002–03. A stable economy with low interest rates has assisted the net growth of business in the East of England.

Small Business

Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Smart Feasibility award winners have failed to launch product or service due to failure to attract investment.

Nigel Griffiths: The report of the most recent, independent evaluation of the Smart scheme was published in September 2001. It found that 29 per cent. of those businesses which received only a Feasibility Study award and 19 per cent. of those which received both a Feasibility Study and a Development Project award did not or expected not to introduce a new or improved product or process as a result of the project. Of those businesses, regardless of the outcome of their projects, which found barriers to the introduction of new products or processes to market, 37 per cent. which received only a Feasibility Study award and 31 per cent. which received both a Feasibility Study and a Development Project award cited "lack of finance" as a barrier.

Software Patenting

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of current EU proposals for software patenting on the small and medium sized enterprise sector.

Patricia Hewitt: The current European Commission proposal for a Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions has been subject to a regulatory impact assessment, which was cleared by the European Scrutiny Committee of the House in its forty-first report of the 2001–02 session.
	Although the scope of the assessment is necessarily wider than the SME sector, it does specifically consider the effect of the proposals on small businesses. In particular, it indicates that the proposed Directive would reduce the uncertainty concerning the patentability of computer-implemented inventions and should therefore reduce patenting and legal costs. As these costs and uncertainties are of particular concern to small and medium sized businesses, I believe that a Directive that achieves these aims would have particular benefits for the SME sector.

Software Patenting

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the policy is of the UK Government regarding the EU proposals for software patenting.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government continue to support the proposal put forward by the European Commission for a Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions that clarifies the existing position and reduces uncertainty in this field. My Department continues to work with interested parties and other member states to achieve a Directive that meets these aims and offers benefits for both software developers and software users in the UK and Europe.

Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what remuneration will be provided to each of the members of the new Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board.

Stephen Timms: The Chairman will receive £450 for a full day's meeting or £225 for a half-day meeting. Board members will receive £200 for a full day's meeting or £100 per half-day meeting.

Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how often the new Sustainable Energy Policy Advisory Board will meet.

Stephen Timms: The full Board will meet once a quarter. There may be additional meetings of sub-groups on an ad hoc basis.

Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will break down the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group administration costs set out in her Departmental Report 2003, for 2003–04; and what amounts were allocated in each year since 1997.

Patricia Hewitt: Allocations of gross administration costs to the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group (TDST) since 1998–99 are set out in the following table. 1997–98 figures are not available because administration costs were compiled on a different basis before 1998–99.
	
		TDST gross administration costs: allocation an breakdown per year since 1997 -- £000
		
			  Type of expenditure 
			  Pay and pensions Current expenditure other than pay Administrator gross total 
		
		
			 1997–98 n/a n/a n/a 
			 1998–99 3,665 2,738 6,762 
			 1999–2000 3,431 3,527 7,173 
			 2000–01 3,744 2,516 6,380 
			 2001–02 4,191 3,845 8,171 
			 2002–03 4,279 4,425 8,704 
			 2003–04 4,134 3,816 8,085

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the annual economic cost to developing countries of the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun.

Mike O'Brien: I have no estimate of the annual economic cost to developing countries of the breakdown of the WTO ministerial conference in Cancun. However, there are a number of studies by academics and international organisations of the benefits to developing countries of a successful round of negotiations. The scale of estimated gains depends on a number of factors including the scale of trade liberalisation implemented, its timing and the product coverage. Most recently, a World Bank study ("Global Economic Prospects and the Developing Countries", 2004) estimated that significant liberalisation could boost developing country incomes by between $159 billion and $349 billion per annum by 2015.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal meetings she held at the ministerial conference in Cancun with representatives of developing countries.

Mike O'Brien: My ministerial colleagues and I between us talked with Ministers from around 40 developing countries, including many from the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group, in meetings in Cancun. A visit to Honduras with Christian Aid to visit poor families meant I was in Cancun for the last 48 hours of the conference. In that time, in addition to EU and other meetings, I spoke with six developing country Ministers.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts since the breakdown of the World Trade Organisation ministerial conference in Cancun about (a) improving processes for decision-making and (b) taking account of the views of developing countries.

Mike O'Brien: The Government have had various discussion with our EU partners and the European Commission since the WTO Ministerial in Cancun.
	My right hon. Friend and I met with my our fellow EU Trade Ministers and the European Commission, on 2 December, to reaffirm our commitment to the current round of negotiations and to send a clear message of the importance of positive and flexible engagement with all WTO members, including taking account of the views of developing countries. We also discussed improvements to the functioning of the WTO, in particular WTO ministerial meetings.
	These discussions are reflected in the Commission's strategy paper, "Reviving the DDA Negotiations—the EU perspective", which was endorsed by the European Council of Ministers on 8 December last year.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the progress achieved by World Trade Organisation members in meeting the terms of the Cancun Declaration by 15 December 2003.

Mike O'Brien: Following the disappointing conclusion to the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, the Government welcome the fact that all WTO members have committed themselves to re-engaging in the Doha round of trade negotiations. It is vital that all WTO members now turn themselves towards making real and significant progress in implementing the Doha Development Agenda.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) prospective members of the proposed new Armed Forces Pension Scheme and (b) beneficiaries of the associated compensation arrangements he estimates will find the provision for them capped by a £1.4 million limitation on the total value of pension and related arrangements.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence expects very few members of the new Armed Forces Pensions Scheme to be affected by the Government's proposed lifetime allowance of £1.4 million. Payments from the new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme are not retirement pensions for taxation purposes and are not therefore affected by the proposed allowance.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value of the pension provision through the proposed Armed Forces Pension Scheme, capitalised in accordance with the rules proposed by the Treasury, will be for (a) a senior warrant officer, (b) an officer retiring at normal retirement age at the rank of major or equivalent and (c) a four star officer; and if he will make a statement on the assumptions and calculations underlying the valuations.

Ivor Caplin: The figures are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 4* officer 1,518,000 
			 Major (and equivalent) 493,000 
			 Warrant officer 1 (higher) 418,000 
		
	
	The figures assume broadly mid-point 2003–04 pay rates, 35 years Service (some of which might be after normal pension age of 55) and the new pension scheme provision of a 50 per cent. pension after 35 years' Service. The pensions have been capitalised using the Inland Revenue formula of 20 times pension plus the lump sum, equivalent to three times the pension. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000. The formula used to capitalise pensions is subject to public consultation by the Inland Revenue.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he intends to make in relation to the Armed Forces Pension Scheme and compensation arrangements to ensure that, as the pay rates of the armed forces are increased over time to protect their real value, the full value of pension and compensation arrangements are not restricted by a cap on capitalised value fixed in cash terms.

Ivor Caplin: The Government propose to increase the proposed lifetime allowance annually by the Retail Prices Index. Like any other employer, the Ministry of Defence will keep this under review.

Conflict Resolution

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what change there will be in his Department's funding for conflict resolution projects over the next five years;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the amount of money spent by other Defence Departments in European countries on conflict resolution projects;
	(3)  how much his Department spent on conflict resolution projects in the latest year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: Ministry of Defence involvement in conflict resolution projects, as opposed to operations, is funded through the programme budgets of the United Kingdom's Global and Africa Conflict Prevention Pools. Pool funding levels for future years will be established during Spending Review 2004.
	In Financial Year 2002–03, the Pools funded nearly £41 million of Ministry of Defence support to conflict prevention and conflict resolution projects. Further information on the conflict resolution work of the Ministry of Defence, together with that of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development, can be found in the Global Conflict Prevention Pool booklet, published on 9 September 2003.
	The MOD has made no assessment of the amount of money spent by other Defence Departments in European countries on conflict resolution.

Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 15 December 2003, Official Report, column 657W, on vaccination, when he will write to the hon. Member.

Ivor Caplin: There has been a delay in this response as I require further information to establish the precise licensing position on all the vaccines and to provide a precise answer. I will do so as soon as I can.

European Defence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the NATO Secretary General about European defence.

Geoff Hoon: I had regular discussions with Lord Robertson across a wide range of issues concerning European defence and I look forward to working with the new NATO Secretary General in the same way. There have been no meetings of the NATO Defence Ministers since the beginning of the year, when Mr. de Hoop Scheffer took on his new role, but one is scheduled for early February.
	In a telephone conversation on Friday 9 January 2004, I congratulated Mr. de Hoop Scheffer on his appointment and outlined some of the United Kingdom's priorities for NATO including the importance of the European nations' contribution to the Alliance and the NATO/EU relationship.

Falklands War Veterans

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Falklands War veterans were still serving in the (a) Army, (b) Navy, (c) RAF and (d) Royal Marines in 2003.

Ivor Caplin: The matter is being investigated and has taken longer to compile than initially thought. I will write to my hon. Friend when this work is complete and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Fire Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost is of modernising the Defence Fire Service to the standard envisaged by Fire Study 2000.

Ivor Caplin: The recommendations contained in Fire Study 2000 for modernising the organisation of the Defence Fire Service would expect to achieve yearly savings rather than increased expenditure.

Fire Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to co-ordinate tri-Service civil emergencies fire training.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has no plans to co-ordinate tri-Service civil emergencies fire training. Dealing with a civil emergency remains the responsibility of the civil authorities. Any assistance provided by the armed forces in the event of such an emergency would be in support of those authorities and at their specific request. It would most likely take the form of general duties support.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many international law enforcement officers are stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq.

Adam Ingram: As at 16 January 2004, there were around 645 international law enforcement officers stationed in the British zone in Southern Iraq. This figure includes international civilian police officers, contract police officers and carabinieri who are mandated with civilian policing powers.

Iraq

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost to the Department has been to date in respect of the Iraq conflict; and what the projected costs are for (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006.

Adam Ingram: Outturn information for 2002–03 on the cost of operations in Iraq has been published as part of the Ministry of Defence's Annual Report and Accounts. Operating Costs for 2002–03 for operations in Iraq total £629.531 million. Expenditure on capital equipment amounts to £217.680 million. The grand total is, therefore, £847.211 million.
	For 2003–04, funding voted at Winter Supplementary Estimates amounted to £1.2 billion and covered the cost of peacekeeping and associated Urgent Operational Requirements (UORs). The MOD will seek a further £300 million at Spring Supplementary Estimates to cover primarily the cost of the Recuperation of my Department's operational capability. Thus, the total sought in 2003–04 will be £1.5 billion.
	It is too early to say what costs might be incurred after 2003–04.

Iraq

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his statement of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 690, on the National Audit Office Report on Operation Telic, when he gave Mrs. Samantha Roberts, a (a) summary of the incident in which her husband died and (b) ballistics report; when he met Mrs. Roberts; when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch report into Sergeant Roberts' death will be published; and when the Army Board of Inquiry into Sergeant Roberts' death will be convened.

Geoff Hoon: Mrs. Roberts was provided with a summary of the incident on 18 June 2003 by the Casualty Visiting Officer. A report summary of the weapons test was passed to Mrs. Roberts in December 2003. I met Mrs. Roberts, together with other members of Sergeant Roberts' family, on 15 October 2003 and 19 January 2004.
	It is not clear when the Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch investigation will conclude, but a briefing will be offered to Mrs. Roberts as soon as is practicable, once the SIB's findings are known. A Board of Inquiry will be convened when the SIB investigation has concluded.

Night Vision Goggles

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what reason the pilots of the two helicopters of 849 Naval Air Squadron which collided on 22 March 2003 had not been issued with night vision goggles;
	(2)  what the criteria are for the issuing of night vision goggles to Naval Air Squadron personnel;
	(3)  if he will list the equipment available to Naval Air Squadron helicopter pilots, other than night vision goggles, to prevent collision in poor flying conditions at low altitude at night;
	(4)  if he will make it his policy that night vision goggles will be issued to helicopter pilots before night-time missions.

Adam Ingram: Night vision goggles (NVG) can be operated only in aircraft that have been specifically modified for this role. Naval helicopters are fitted to allow operation with NVG according to their tactical role in operations. The operational role for the helicopters of 849 Naval Air Squadron involved in Operation TELIC did not require the modifications to the helicopters that are necessary for the provision of NVG.
	For RN helicopters, safety is provided by operating procedures such as, air traffic control awareness of hazards through radar detection, communications, lighting and lookout. NVG can, in certain circumstances, enhance these capabilities. But ships operating NVG aircraft need to be compatible. Darkening a ship to allow aircraft NVG operations brings its own safety issues.
	Policy for a fleet-wide night vision capability is currently under consideration.

Non-British Naval Ships (UK Waters)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 278W, if he will make a statement on co-ordination between external security measures taken by the UK and on-board security measures taken by a visiting nation during the docking of non-British naval ships in UK waters.

Adam Ingram: External and on-board security measures put in place during the docking of a non-British naval ship in the United Kingdom waters are closely coordinated between the relevant UK authority and the visiting nation. Jurisdiction, however, is clearly delineated, with the visiting ships' Commanding Officer responsible for security within the confines of the ship while external security measures rest with the local police authority or the Naval Base Commander for visits to a Naval Base.

Oath of Allegiance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to change the requirement that members of the armed forces take an oath of allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors.

Adam Ingram: None.

Port Facilities (Iberian Peninsula)

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what preference is given to the use of port facilities at Gibraltar over those at other Iberian ports where Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary or other vessels owned or chartered by his Department transit the Straits of Gibraltar or operate in, or transit, nearby waters.

Adam Ingram: The goodwill generated from visiting foreign ports makes a significant contribution to Defence Diplomacy, the continuing development of bilateral relations and support to the United Kingdom Industry. A balanced approach is, therefore, taken to ensure that Gibraltar and other ports in the region, including those of other Iberian states, are visited on a regular basis. In addition, ships en route to or returning from deployments east of Suez and Atlantic Patrol Tasks are routinely programmed to visit Gibraltar.

Port Facilities (Iberian Peninsula)

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list each (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (c) other vessels owned or chartered by his Department which has visited (i) Gibraltar and (ii) other Iberian ports in the last year; and what the (A) date, (B) length and (C) location of each visit was.

Adam Ingram: The following tables lists visits by Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and Ministry of Defence-owned or chartered vessels to Gibraltar and other Iberian ports over the 2003 calendar year.
	
		Visits to Gibraltar by RN, RFA and MOD-owned/chartered vessels during 2003
		
			 Ship Arrival Departure 
		
		
			 RFA Orangeleaf 13 January 13 January  
			 RFA Orangeleaf 24 January 31 March  
			 MV Laine 28 January 28 January  
			 HMS Westminster 31 January 1 February  
			 MV Ulusoy-4 1 February 2 February 
			 HMS Westminster 5 February 6 February 
			 MV Pancaldo 11 February 11 February 
			 HMS Richmond 14 February 17 February 
			 MV Strada Gigante 15 February 15 February 
			 HMS Westminster 18 February 21 March 
			 MV Dart-9 26 February 27 February 
			 HMS Westminster 28 February 3 March 
			 MV Southern Trader 2 March 2 March 
			 MV Ulusoy-5 5March 5March 
			 HMS Westminster 7March 10 March 
			 MV Germania 3 April 3 April 
			 MV Kapitan Burhanettin Isim 7 April 7 April 
			 HMS Turbulent 7 April 12 April 
			 MV Arroyofrio Uno 11 April 11 April 
			 Mv Tychy 27 April 27 April 
			 RFA Fort Victoria 2 May 5 May 
			 RFA Fort Victoria 6 May 8 May 
			 HMS Scott 10 May 10 May 
			 MV Valibur 11 May 11 May 
			 RFA Gold Rover 16 May 17 May 
			 MV Pacific Winner 18 May 18 May 
			 NAV Kinterbury 18 May 18 May 
			 RFA Argus 20 May 24 May 
			 HMS Ocean 21 May 24 May 
			 HMS Edinburgh 24 May 24 May 
			 HMS Westminster 5 June 6 June 
			 HMS Westminster 6 June 7 June 
			 HMS Westminster 11 June 12 June 
			 HMS Sutherland 13 June 14 June 
			 MV Arroyofrio Uno 18 June 18 June 
			 HMS Chiddingfold 27 June 3 June 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 4 July 7 July 
			 HMS Cornwall 12 July 13 July 
			 HMS Grimsby 24 July 28 July 
			 HMS Ledbury 24 July 28 July 
			 HMS Ramsey 24 July 28 July 
			 HMS Shoreham 24 July 28 July 
			 RFA Sir Tristram 24 July 28 July 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 25 July 28 July 
			 HMS Richmond 26 July 27 July 
			 HMS Marlborough 3 August 4 August 
			 MV Arroyofrio Uno 11 August 11 August 
			 MV Dart-8 24 August 24 August 
			 HMS Northumberland 3 September 4 September 
			 MV Dart-10 15 September 15 September 
			 HMS Marlborough 20 September 22 September 
			 HMS Marlborough 26 September 27 September 
			 HMS Campbeltown 7 October 8 October 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 8 October 8 October 
			 HMS Turbulent 9 October 15 October 
			 HMS York 11 October 13 October 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 14 October 15 October 
			 HMS Cornwall 17 October 19 October 
			 HMS Norfolk 19 October 21 October 
			 HMS Gloucester 26 October 28 October 
			 MV Anvil Point 3 November 8 November 
			 RFA Brambleleaf 14 November 20 November 
			 HMS St. Albans 14 November 17 November 
			 HMS Scott 19 November 24 November 
			 MV Eddystone 21 November 22 November 
			 MV Hurst Point 23 November 23 November 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 28 November 1 December 
			 HMS Richmond 29 November 1 December 
			 MV Hurst Point 4 December 7 December 
			 HMS Lindisfarne 5 December 10 December 
			 HMS Richmond 5 December 5 December 
			 HMS Kent 12 December 15 December 
			 RFA Orangeleaf 12 December 14 December 
			 HMS Portland 13 December 13 December 
		
	
	
		Visits to Spanish Ports by RN, RFA and MOD-owned/chartered vessels during 2003
		
			 Port Ship Arrival Departure 
		
		
			 Las Palmas MV Hartland Point 5 January 31 January 
			 Algeciras RFA Brambleleaf 9 January 12 January 
			 Alicante RFA Brambleleaf 13 January 13 January 
			 Algeciras RFA Oakleaf 16 January 20 January 
			 Alicante RFA Brambleleaf 24 January 25 January 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Grimsby 31 January 3 February 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Ledbury 31 January 3 February 
			 Rota HMS Cornwall 17 March 20 March 
			 Rota HMS Cornwall 20 March 21 March 
			 Rota HMS Cornwall 21 March 26 March 
			 Alicante HMS Cardiff 24 March 29 March 
			 EL Ferrol RFA Wave Knight 7 April 9 April 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Ark Royal 29 April 5 May 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS York 29 April 5 May 
			 Rota HMS Northumberland 1 May 2 May 
			 Cartagena HMS Northumberland 4 May 7 May 
			 Ibiza HMS Blyth 8 May 11 May 
			 Ibiza HMS Brocklesby 8 May 11 May 
			 Palma HMS Northumberland 12 May 14 May 
			 Rota HMS Ark Royal 13 May 13 May 
			 Villagarcia De Arosa HMS Blyth 15 May 17 May 
			 Villagarcia De Arosa HMS Brocklesby 15 May 17 May 
			 Barcelona RFA Fort Austin 20 May 23 May 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Roebuck 30 May 3 June 
			 Alicante HMS Northumberland 2 June 3 June 
			 Alicante HMS Northumberland 3 June 5 June 
			 Alicante HMS Northumberland 5 June 9 June 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Bangor 7 June 11 June 
			 Palma, Mallorca HMS Sandown 7 June 11 June 
			 Rota HMS Kent 9 June 10 June 
			 La Coruna HMS Bangor 16 June 17 June 
			 La Coruna HMS Sandown 16 June 17 June 
			 Rota HMS Kent 19 June 20 June 
			 Barcelona HMS Chatham 25 July 29 July 
			 Cadiz RFA Sir Galahad 29 July 1 August 
			 Malaga RFA Grey Rover 31 July 4 August 
			 Malaga HMS Liverpool 31 July 4 August 
			 Algeciras RFA Orangeleaf 13 August 14 August 
			 Las Palmas RFA Fort Victoria 1 October 5 October 
			 Santa Cruz HMS Invincible 1 October 5 October 
			 Rota HMS Somerset 11 October 14 October 
			 Barcelona HMS Portland 29 October 3 November 
			 Barcelona HMS Sutherland 21 November 26 November 
			 Las Palmas RFA Fort George 29 November 2 December 
			 La Coruna HMS Pembroke 11 December 14 December 
		
	
	
		Visits to Portuguese Ports by RN, RFA and MOD chartered vessels during 2003
		
			 Port Ship Arrival Departure 
		
		
			 Lisbon HMS Grimsby 24 January 27 January 
			 Lisbon HMS Ledbury 24 January 27 January 
			 Lisbon HMS Cumberland 9 February 11 February 
			 Lisbon HMS Ramsey 1 April 2 April 
			 Lisbon HMS Shoreham 1 April 2 April 
			 Pontadelgada HMS Scott 24 July 24 July 
			 Porto HMS Grimsby 30 July 30 July 
			 Porto HMS Shoreham 30 July 30 July 
			 Porto HMS Ledbury 30 July 30 July 
			 Porto HMS Ramsey 30 July 30 July 
			 Lisbon HMS Chatham 1 August 5 August 
			 Oporto HMS Marlborough 29 September 1 October 
			 Lisbon HSM Glasgow 10 November 10 November 
			 Lisbon HMS Monmouth 13 November 18 November 
			 Lisbon HMS York 29 November 1 December 
			 Lisbon HMS Albion 4 December 8 December

Territorial Army

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how compulsory mobilisation of the Territorial Army in Operation Telic affects the continuity of Service calculations for the (a) Territorial Decoration and (b) other longer Service awards.

Ivor Caplin: The Territorial Decoration (TD) was replaced by the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VRSM) in 1999, although those members of the Territorial Army (TA) who had already completed a significant period of Service towards the award, can still receive the TD.
	Periods of compulsory mobilisation by TA personnel on Operation Telic will count towards the TD, the VRSM or the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Territorial Army

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how compulsory mobilisation of the Territorial Army affects eligibility for annual training bounty;
	(2)  whether the Territorial Army's annual training bounty is payable in the respect of compulsory mobilisation service.

Ivor Caplin: While compulsory mobilisation does not in itself qualify members of the Territorial Army for their annual training bounty, certain aspects of that service can contribute towards the award. For example, mobilised service in theatre can be considered as meeting the requirement for a 15-day camp (or training in lieu).

Unexploded Ordnance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 683W, on unexploded cluster bombs, if he will list each case for which compensation has been paid, to the victims of British cluster bombs in (a) Kosovo, (b) Afghanistan and (c) Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has no record of compensation payments being made to victims of British cluster bombs in Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Colombia

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government are taking to ensure that (a) UK and (b) EU aid to Colombia is not used in a way contrary to UN recommendations on human rights.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: I refer my hon. Friend to the response given by the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Ayr on Thursday, 26 June 2003 Official Report, column. 941W.
	DFID's one remaining government-to-government bilateral project in Colombia has now ended, This provided advice on improving the exchange of information between Non-Governmental Organisations working in agriculture. The project was consistent with the UN human rights recommendations.

Africa Peer Review Mechanism

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he will report on the outcome of the technical reviews of economic governance carried out as part of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism.

Hilary Benn: The Africa Peer Review Mechanism is a voluntary process. Work by the Peer Review Secretariat and others involved in the technical assessment is ongoing. We will learn more about progress when the results of the first Peer Review have been published.
	Sixteen countries have signed up for the Africa Peer Review Mechanism. There is no confirmation yet as to which country will be first, although it has been proposed that Ghana and South Africa may be among the first wave. Currently it appears unlikely that the technical assessments will be published separately, but as part of the overall report on each country. The reports will all be published by the NEPAD secretariat.

Democratic Republic of Congo

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the (a) resources available to and (b) effectiveness of the African Union presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hilary Benn: I understand that the African Union is currently represented at an administrative level only in the DRC. At the present time it does not appear to have a significant profile in Kinshasa on DRC issues.

Debt Relief

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consideration is given to levels of HIV infection when approving a country for Heavily Indebted Poor Country debt relief.

Hilary Benn: The amount of debt relief a country receives under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative is determined by its Debt Sustainability Analysis. A country's debt is compared with its export earnings and government revenue, and relief is provided either to bring the debt to export ratio down to 150 per cent., or the debt to government revenue ratio down to 250 per cent, whichever gives the greater amount of relief. This framework is straightforward and transparent. It also captures all of the factors that could affect a country's ability to service its debt, including levels of HIV infection, as these will affect the export and government revenue figures. Additional relief—or 'topping up'—can also be provided at Completion Point, for those countries that, as a result of exogenous shocks, risk exiting the Initiative with debts above the HIPC sustainability threshold.
	Levels of HIV infection are also addressed directly through the development of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), which are a requirement for receiving HIPC debt relief. Governments in HIPC countries lead national processes to develop PRSPs. These strategies set out national priorities and include an estimate of the cost of reaching medium-term development targets. The planned use of HIPC debt relief, along with all other forms of assistance for addressing social problems, such as HIV/AIDS, are addressed in these strategies. For many HIPC countries, analysis of poverty trends in PRSPs shows HIV/AIDS is an important factor, and public action plans can be costed within national spending plans. In this way, savings made under the HIPC Initiative are channelled directly towards tackling this issue.

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the extent of the food shortage in Ethiopia (a) in absolute terms and (b) by comparison with December 2002; and what measures are being taken to improve the situation.

Hilary Benn: In December 2003, the Government of Ethiopia appealed for food assistance for 7.2 million people, amounting to 964,690 metric tonnes of cereal. This is a 45 per cent. reduction from the 13.2 million people requiring relief in December 2002.
	However, there is unlikely to be any overall shortage of food in Ethiopia during 2004. Some five to six million people require assistance every year even without shocks such as drought. For this group, we are working with Government to develop a safety net that will provide timely and sufficient resources to not only save lives but help people become more productive.
	We also work with Government and others to promote long-term development and sustainably reduce vulnerability to shock. For example, we are expanding local level roads to improve access to markets and supporting the development of vulnerable groups such as pastoralists.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the (a) nature and (b) cost is of his Department's support for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation.

Hilary Benn: DFID provides financial support to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) and works closely with the partnership to further its objectives. The UK was on the Board of GAVI for two years to July 2003. We remain engaged with GAVI work on the evaluation of its support to country health systems, on the introduction of new vaccines, and on initiatives to overcome health system barriers to increasing immunisation. DFID has supported GAVI since its inception, initially with a grant of £3 million and then a grant of £35 million over five years (2001–05).

Millennium Development Goals

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the percentage change was between 1990 and 2003 in the numbers of underweight children under five years of age in each country covered by the millennium development goals.

Hilary Benn: The information readily accessible refers to the percentage of children in developing countries aged under five who are seriously underweight. The data are not collected on an annual basis and very few countries have data more recent than 2000. The table sets out the information on the prevalence of child malnutrition by country for the year which most closely approximates to 1990 and 2000 1 . Where the reference year is different from these two dates this is specified. The final column sets out the difference in percentage points between the two statistics.
	1 Countries without any internationally comparable data have been excluded from the table.
	
		Percentage of underweight children (weight for age)
		
			 Country 1990 Year 2000 Year Change over period where appropriate (percentage points) 
		
		
			 Afghanistan (4)—  49 1997  
			 Albania 8 1998 14  -6 
			 Algeria 9 1992 6  3 
			 Angola (4)—  41 1996  
			 Argentine Republic 2 1994 5 1996 -3 
			 Armenia 3 1998 3  0 
			 Azerbaijan 10 1996 17  -7 
			 Bangladesh 66  48  18 
			 Belize 6 1992 (4)—   
			 Benin 29 1996 23 2001 6 
			 Bhutan (4)—  19 1999  
			 Bolivia 11  8 1998 3 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina (4)—  4   
			 Botswana 17 1996 13  4 
			 Brazil (4)—  6 1996  
			 Burkina Faso 33 1993 34 1999 -1 
			 Burma 32  43 1995 -11 
			 Burundi (4)—  45   
			 Cambodia 47 1996 45  2 
			 Cameroon 15 1991 22 1998 -7 
			 Cape Verde 14 1994 (4)—   
			 Central African Republic 23 1995 (4)—   
			 Chad 39 1997 28  11 
			 Chile 2 1993 1 1999 1 
			 China 17 1992 10  7 
			 Colombia 8 1995 7  1 
			 Comoros 19 1992 25  -6 
			 Congo (Dem. Rep.) 34 95 (4)—   
			 Costa Rica 3  5 1996 -2 
			 Cote d'lvoire 24 1994 21 1999 3 
			 Croatia 1 1994 1 1996 0 
			 Czech Republic 1 1991 (4)—   
			 Djibouti (4)—  18 1996  
			 Dominican Republic 10 1991 5  5 
			 Ecuador (4)—  14 1998  
			 Egypt 10  4  6 
			 El Salvador 11 1993 2 1998 -1 
			 Equatorial Guinea (4)—  (4)—   
			 Eritrea 41 1993 44 1995 -3 
			 Estonia (4)—  (4)—   
			 Ethiopia 48 1992 47  1 
			 Fiji 8 1993 (4)—   
			 Gabon (4)—  12   
			 Gambia 26 1996 17  9 
			 Georgia (4)—  3 1999  
			 Ghana 27 1994 25 1999 2 
			 Guatemala 27 1995 24 1999 3 
			 Guinea 23 1999 33  -10 
			 Guinea-Bissau (4)—  25   
			 Guyana 18 1993 12 1997 6 
			 Haiti 27  17  10 
			 Honduras 18 1992 17 2001 1 
			 India 64  53 1993 11 
			 Indonesia 34 1995 25  9 
			 Iran 16 1995 11 1998 5 
			 Iraq 12 1991 (4)—   
			 Jamaica 5 1991 4 1999 1 
			 Jordan 6  5 1997 1 
			 Kazakhstan 8 1995 4 1999 4 
			 Kenya 23 1993 22 1998 1 
			 Korea Dem. Rep. (North) (4)—  28   
			 Kuwait (4)—  2 1997  
			 Kyrgyzstan (4)—  11 1997  
			 Laos 44 1993 40  4 
			 Lebanon (4)—  3 1996  
			 Lesotho 16 1992 18  -2 
			 Libya 5 1995 (4)—   
			 Macedonia (FYR of) (4)—  6 1999  
			 Madagascar 41 1992 40 1997 1 
			 Malawi 28 1992 25  3 
			 Malaysia 25  20 1995 5 
			 Maldives 39 1994 43 1995 -4 
			 Mali (4)—  27 1996  
			 Mauritania 48 1991 32  16 
			 Mauritius 15 1995 (4)—   
			 Mexico 17 1996 8 1999 9 
			 Mongolia 12 1992 13 1999 -1 
			 Morocco 10 1992 (4)—   
			 Mozambique 27 1995 26 1997 1 
			 Namibia 26 1992 (4)—   
			 Nepal 49 1995 48 2001 1 
			 Nicaragua 11 1993 12 1998 -1 
			 Niger 43 1992 40  3 
			 Nigeria 35  31 1999 4 
			 Oman 24 1991 23 1995 1 
			 Pakistan 40 1991 38 1995 2 
			 Panama 6 1992 8 1997 -2 
			 Paraguay 4  (4)—   
			 Peru 11 1992 7  4 
			 Philippines 34  32 1998 2 
			 Qatar 6 1995 (4)—   
			 Romania 6 1991 (4)—   
			 Russian Federation 4 1993 3 1995 1 
			 Rwanda 29 1992 24  5 
			 Senegal 22 1992 18  4 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 2 1996 2  0 
			 Sierra Leone 29  27  2 
			 Solomon Islands (4)—  21 1997  
			 Somalia (4)—  26   
			 South Africa 9 1995 (4)—   
			 Sri Lanka 38 1993 33  5 
			 St. Vincent and Grenadines (4)—  20 1996  
			 Sudan 34 1993 11  23 
			 Swaziland (4)—  10   
			 Syria 12 1993 13 1995 -1 
			 Tanzania 29 1992 29 1999 0 
			 Thailand 19 1993 18 1995 1 
			 Togo 19 1996 25 1998 -6 
			 Tunisia 9 1995 4  5 
			 Turkey 10 1993 8 1998 2 
			 Turkmenistan (4)—  12   
			 Uganda 26 1995 23  3 
			 Ukraine (4)—  3   
			 United Arab Emirates (4)—  7 1996  
			 Uruguay 4 1993 (4)—   
			 Uzbekistan (4)—  19 1996  
			 Venezuela 8  4  4 
			 Vietnam 41 1993 34  7 
			 West Bank and Gaza 15 1995 (4)—   
			 Yemen 30 1992 46 1997 -16 
			 Zambia 25 1992 24 1997 1 
			 Zimbabwe 16 1994 13 1999 3 
		
	
	(4) Not available
	Note:
	Weight for age malnutrition is defined as the percentage of children under five whose weight for age are significantly below (in precise terms minus two standard deviations) the median for the international reference population of the same age group.
	Source:
	Statistics on International Development 2003

Security Passes

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many security passes have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen by staff in his Department in the last 12 months.

Hilary Benn: Staff in my department have reported losing 39 staff security passes during 2003. In addition a further four have been reported lost as a result of burglaries and theft of handbags and jackets outside of the office.

St. Helena (Airport)

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on constructing an airport on St. Helena.

Hilary Benn: The response to an international invitation, which had sought outline proposals for private sector participation and investment in possible development of air access, is being considered in consultation with the St Helena Government. An expert assessment of four expressions of interest in the possible venture was received last month. As the next step, we shall soon decide whether any or all of the existing proposals offer a suitable basis for proceeding further.

World Trade Organisation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Director General of the World Trade Organisation since 15 December 2003.

Hilary Benn: I have had no discussions with the WTO Director General, though the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has.

Transport Infrastructure Projects

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the five largest major or national transport infrastructure projects which his Department is funding are.

Hilary Benn: The five largest major transport and infrastructure projects which my Department is funding are listed as follows:
	
		
			 Project title Country Value(£ million) Purpose 
		
		
			 Rural Access Programme Nepal 33 To improve poor people's access to the goods and services that they value in targeted hill areas through an improvement in basic transport, an increase in access for rural populations and the development of a strategy for the future organisation of infrastructure development in these areas. 
			 Support to Rural Feeder Roads Ghana 27 To improve access to services and markets in rural areas resulting from development of a sustainable rural road network. 
			 Bhairab bridge Bangladesh 22 To facilitate accelerated economic growth and reduced poverty in North East Bangladesh by the construction of a 4 lane road bridge over the Meghna river. 
			 Institutional Dev Comp of Road Rehabilitation II & III Bangladesh 19 To reduce the total cost of road transport by improving the road network through more effective design and construction of roads and more effective programming and implementation of road maintenance and improvement of operations of the Road Highways Department. 
			 Rural Transport Project Phase II Vietnam 19 To ensure an increased flow of people, goods and services in rural Vietnam by improving basic access for rural areas and providing a strategy for sustainable maintenance of rural roads nation wide

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Classroom Assistants

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many classroom assistants were employed in schools in Warrington North (a) in 1997 and (b) at the last date for which figures are available.

David Miliband: The full-time equivalent number of teaching assistants 1 in maintained schools is recorded in January of each year on the Annual School Census. In Warrington, North constituency there were 120 teaching assistants in maintained schools in 1997 and 230 in 2003.
	1 Includes teaching assistants, nursery assistants in nursery schools, special needs support staff and minority ethnic pupil support staff.

Higher Education Funding

Keith Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what 
	(1)  (a) proportion and (b) type of courses in higher education are subject to variable fees;
	(2)  what proportion of courses in colleges of further education are subject to variable fees.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 20 January 2004
	Fees for post graduate, part-time and overseas students in higher education are currently unregulated. Such students make up around 50 per cent. of the total. Fees for full-time undergraduates are currently set at a standard rate of £1,125 per year (for 2003–04): the Higher Education Bill contains provisions to allow higher education institutions and further education colleges that provide higher education to vary their fees for these students up to a maximum of £3,000, provided they have an access agreement approved by the Office for Fair Access.
	Approximately 80 per cent., of further education provision for adults is subject to variable fees. Public funding through the Learning and Skills Council assumes a learner or employer contribution of 25 per cent. to the basic cost of the course. However, colleges are free to vary the fee charged between 0 per cent. and 75 per cent. of the basic cost. No fees may be charged for the 20 per cent. of provision not subject to variable fees. This comprises provision for adult learners on income based benefits and literacy and numeracy courses.

School Fruit Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which of the 50 most deprived council wards have schools taking part in the National School Fruit Scheme.

Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
	All local education authority schools with children aged four to nine years in four of the nine Government Regions had been invited to join the National School Fruit Scheme.
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Ward Local authority Index of multiple deprivation score Rank of index of multiple deprivation Taking part inNSFS/dateexpected to join 
		
		
			 Benchill Manchester 83.77 1 Yes 
			 Speke Liverpool 83.13 2 Yes 
			 Thorntree Middlesbrough 82.52 3 March 2004 
			 Everton Liverpool 82.10 4 Yes 
			 Pallister Middlesbrough 81.76 5 March 2004 
			 Vauxhall Liverpool 81.47 6 Yes 
			 St. Hilda's Middlesbrough 81.28 7 March 2004 
			 Princess Knowsley 80.80 8 Yes 
			 Grangetown Redcar and Cleveland 80.38 9 March 2004 
			 Granby Liverpool 79.83 10 Yes 
			 Pirrie Liverpool 79.74 11 Yes 
			 Breckfield Liverpool 79.71 12 Yes 
			 Longview Knowsley 79.65 13 Yes 
			 Cherryfield Knowsley 79.64 14 Yes 
			 Portrack and Tilery Stockton-on-Tees 78.41 15 March 2004 
			 Harpurhey Manchester 78.28 16 Yes 
			 Beswick and Clayton Manchester 77.58 17 Yes 
			 Kirkby Central Knowsley 77.37 18 Yes 
			 Regent Great Yarmouth 77.30 19 Autumn 2004 
			 Northwood Knowsley 77.26 20 Yes 
			 Eden Hill Easington 76.99 21 Autumn 2004 
			 Bradford Manchester 76.63 22 Yes 
			 Bidston Wirral 76.23 23 Yes 
			 Melrose Liverpool 76.21 24 Yes 
			 Owton Hartlepool 76.01 25 Yes 
			 Clubmoor Liverpool 75.99 26 Yes 
			 Aston Birmingham 75.96 27 Yes 
			 Smithdown Liverpool 75.81 28 Yes 
			 Ardwick Manchester 75.73 29 Yes 
			 Walker Newcastle upon Tyne 75.57 30 March 2004 
			 Monkchester Newcastle upon Tyne 75.37 31 March 2004 
			 Park End Middlesbrough 75.31 32 March 2004 
			 Sparkbrook Birmingham 75.15 33 Yes 
			 Dovecot Liverpool 75.15 34 Yes 
			 Ordnance Newham 75.06 35 Yes 
			 Elswick Newcastle upon Tyne 74.59 36 March 2004 
			 Nelson Great Yarmouth 74.33 37 Autumn 2004 
			 Cantril Farm Knowsley 74.33 38 Yes 
			 Whitefield Pendle 73.93 39 Yes 
			 West City Newcastle upon Tyne 73.92 40 March 2004 
			 Central Manchester 73.75 41 Yes 
			 Little Norton Bradford 73.48 42 Yes 
			 Southey Green Sheffield 73.36 43 Autumn 2004 
			 Netherley Liverpool 73.27 44 Yes 
			 Newton Heath Manchester 73.13 45 Yes 
			 Spitalfields Tower Hamlets 73.11 46 Yes 
			 Lansbury Tower Hamlets 73.08 47 Yes 
			 Kensington Liverpool 73.05 48 YES 
			 Weavers Tower Hamlets 73.03 49 Yes 
			 Noddle Hill Kingston upon Hull, City of 72.91 50 Autumn 2004

School Meals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent on school meals per head by each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect this information from schools or local education authorities.

Higher Education Funding

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what amount of debt he has based his estimate of the length of time it will take the average graduate to complete graduate repayments after 2010; and what the change would be in this time if the annual income threshold for repayment was raised to (a) £18,000 and (b) £20,000.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 19 January 2004
	The estimate of the length of time to repay is the average across all students who take out a loan. This is different from the length of time it will take for some notional average graduate to repay. The estimate is from a model which simulates student loan repayments, based on assumed distributions of: length of time in Higher Education; size of means-tested loan taken out; size of fee loan, net of any fee remission; and borrower lifetime earnings. Some borrowers will repay more quickly than this estimated average and some less so.
	As part of a package of reforms announced with the introduction of the Higher Education Bill, any debt outstanding after 25 years would be written-off. The threshold would increase to £15,000 in April 2005 and be increased with inflation from April 2010 onwards. The average time to repay would be around 13 years. Under the same approach to uprating the threshold, the average time to repay would be around 15 years with an £18,000 threshold and around 16 years with a £20,000 threshold.

Higher Education Funding

David Rendel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the additional cost to the Student Loans Company of administering student loans if top-up fees are introduced; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The introduction of deferred fee loans will have a small effect on the Inland Revenue and the Student Loans Company. Any extra costs will be largely a function of the numbers of graduates repaying loans after 2010. There is also the need to monitor what fees a student is incurring for what courses. There will be one-off development costs to the SLC of introducing the change. DfES would meet the cost. No figures are yet available. Information on the proposals is set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), copies of which are in the House Libraries.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Crime Victims (Compensation)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his policy is on compensation for victims of crime where the perpetrator of the crime is a member of the same household as the victim.

John Spellar: The Chief Executive of the Compensation Agency has written to the hon. Gentleman. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.

Minority Liaison Officers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many minority liaison officers working with victims of crime are employed by the police and other institutions and agencies in the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has an appointed Minority Liaison Officer in each of the 29 police districts established under the Racial Monitoring programme in 1997.
	Other criminal justice agencies do not appoint Minority Liaison Officers, but continue to offer support to victims of crime within the criminal justice system. Support may include the provision of interpreters when required and special measures as provided for by the Criminal Evidence ( Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

Moylinn GP Co-operative

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in identifying a new location for the Moylinn GP Co-operative.

Angela Smith: The Southern Health and Social Services Board (SHSSB) and the Association of Southern Areas Doctors On Call (ASADOC) have continued to work together and good progress has been made in identifying a new location for Moylinn Medical Centre. It is expected that an announcement on the outcome of these discussions will be made shortly.

Police Service

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers have been involved in policing operations outside Northern Ireland in each year since its formation; what the nature of the operations involved was; and how long each operation lasted.

Jane Kennedy: The information is not readily available in the format requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The table sets out the number of officers seconded outside Northern Ireland since 3 November 2001.
	
		
			  Secondment to national police training Overseas Service 
		
		
			 2001 0 14 
			 2002 9 44 
			 2003 4 4 
			 Total 13 62 
		
	
	The PSNI have deployed officers to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, East Timor and Iraq. Officers deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina were seconded to the International Police Task force (IPTF). The role of the IPTF is to monitor, advise and train police officers belonging to the Republic Srpska and Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina police forces. A similar monitoring role was undertaken by officers deployed to East Timor.
	Officers deployed to Kosovo are seconded to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The role of UNMIK is to maintain civil laws and orders with executive police powers. Officers perform border police duties at international border crossings also advise and assist in maintenance of public security and order.
	A senior officer of the PSNI was deployed to Iraq to build capacity and oversee the implementation of the Iraqi national policy strategy and maintain and supervise a regional police training academy.

Polling Stations

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the difficulties experienced in ensuring that enough staff were available at polling stations during the Assembly elections in November 2003;
	(2)  what plans he has to ensure that greater numbers of individuals will be available to staff polling stations at future elections.

John Spellar: Difficulties were experienced in the recruitment of polling station staff for the recent Assembly elections. These difficulties arose in part because of the time of year. However, due to the efforts of the Electoral Office, which included using civil servants as polling station staff, it was possible to fill all positions and enable the elections to be conducted successfully.
	The administration of elections is a matter for the Chief Electoral Officer. However, the Government will continue to work closely with the CEO in his planning to ensure that polling stations are correctly staffed.

Race Hate Crime

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures have been taken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to address race hate crime in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has a Community Safety Strategy in place through which it can take action against perpetrators of racial harassment and intimidation. Until recently such action, which normally would have entailed steps to repossess property, was only possible in situations where the perpetrator was a Housing Executive tenant. With the introduction of the Housing (NI) Order 2003, the Housing Executive now has enhanced powers not only in terms of the action it can take against Housing Executive tenants but also through the use of injunctions to address race hate crimes occurring within its estates irrespective of the tenure of the perpetrator. The Housing Executive also assists victims of racial attacks through the provision of temporary accommodation pending enquiries into the circumstances pertaining to any individual case and permanent rehousing, where appropriate. It will also take measures to protect the properties and belongings of victims, if requested to do so.

Race Hate Crime

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many requests for assistance from victims of race hate crime were received in the last 12 months by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive; how many victims were rehoused; and what instructions have been circulated to local offices.

John Spellar: During the 12-month period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 a total of 30 cases from ethnic minority backgrounds presented to the Housing Executive as homeless on grounds of intimidation. Of the 30 cases, 17 were accepted as homeless as a result of intimidation and eligible for housing assistance. The remaining 13 applicants either abandoned their application or were ineligible for assistance under immigration or homeless legislation. While no specific guidance has been issued to staff in respect of racial discrimination, they have been provided with written guidance and training to deal with housing and homeless applications to ensure that all incidents, whether racial, terrorist or sectarian intimidation, are treated with the same degree of urgency and sensitivity.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in Northern Ireland who will commence (a) Enbrel and (b) Remicade treatment in 2004; and what the figures were in 2003.

Angela Smith: In 2003, nine patients commenced treatment on Enbrel and 16 patients commenced treatment on Remicade. I announced on 13 January that we would provide additional resources for such anti-TNF drugs for 2004–05. Decisions have yet to be taken on detailed funding allocations so it is not possible to estimate the number of patients who may benefit from these therapies in 2004.

Suicides

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of suicides that took place in Northern Ireland in 2003.

Ian Pearson: Mortality statistics for 2003 have not been fully collated and therefore the latest available data relate to 2002. In 2002, there were 162 deaths registered in Northern Ireland due to "suicide and self-inflicted injury" and 21 deaths due to "undetermined injury whether accidentally or purposefully inflicted".

Traffic Calming

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will review the criteria used by Roads Service Northern Ireland to decide on areas to be included in traffic calming schemes.

John Spellar: I have asked the Chief Executive of Roads Service to write to the hon. Gentleman in response to this question. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Advertising

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the total expenditure on information campaigns and advertising was for his Department for each year since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999.
	Since that date, expenditure on information campaigns and advertising has been as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1999–2000 26,861 
			 2000–01 270,494 
			 2001–02 186,564 
			 2002–03 10,930 
		
	
	Note:
	Most of the expenditure during this period related to electoral registration information.

Departmental Advertising

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what systems are in place to ensure economies of scale in advertising purchasing between the Scottish Executive and his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Scotland Office works closely with the Scottish Executive on procurement and purchasing issues and participates in joint contracts, wherever possible.

Call Centres

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on prospects for employment in Scottish call centres.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 19 January 2004
	Scotland is home to a significant proportion of the UK's call centres. The Government recognise the important role that call centres play in the Scottish job market and in the wider economy, and will work to ensure the continued development of the industry.
	The DTI recently commissioned a study into the competitiveness of the UK call centre industry, and its initial findings will be available from the end of March.

Population Statistics

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the population of Scotland is, broken down by postcode district.

Anne McGuire: Population statistics in Scotland is a matter for the General Register Office for Scotland, an associated department of the Scottish Executive.
	Population statistics broken down by postcode district can be obtained from "Scotland's Census Records OnLine" (scrol) which is accessible through the General Register Office for Scotland's website at www.gro-scotland.gov.uk.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Appeals

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against decisions made at personal capability assessments were (a) heard and (b) decided in the appellant's favour in the last 12 months, broken down by benefit; what the average length of time between lodging an appeal against a personal capability assessment decision and having that appeal heard was in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: This is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will reply to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. Paul Holmes, dated 19 January 2004
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question regarding how many appeals against decisions made in personal capability assessments were (a) heard and (b) decided in the appellant's favour in the last 12 months, broken down by benefit; and what the average length of time between lodging an appeal against a personal capability assessment decision and having that appeal heard was in the last 12 months.
	The first table shows the number of personal capability assessment appeals cleared and the number found in the appellant's favour, the second table shows the average clearance time in weeks.
	I hope this reply is helpful.
	
		Number of Personal Capability Assessment Appeals cleared at hearing and cleared in favour of the appellant, December 2002 to November 2003
		
			  Total benefit claimants Cleared at hearing Cleared in favour Percentage cleared in favour 
		
		
			 PCA (Incapacity Benefit) (5)2,400,500 41,570 20,130 48.4 
			 PCA (Not Incapacity Benefit): 
			 Income Support (6)4,016,000 435 190 43.7 
			 Jobseekers Allowance (7)911,300 (8)— (8)— Not applicable 
			 Others Not available 90 30 33.3 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance (9)315,300 35 20 57.1 
		
	
	Appeals Figures Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
	2. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest five and percentages to one decimal place.
	Source:
	100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.
	Claimant Figures Notes:
	(5) As of August 2003; Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	(6) As of August 2003; Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
	(7) As of August 2003; Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	(8) Nil or negligible.
	(9) As of August 2003; Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Note:
	Not all claimants of these benefits are subject to the PCA. Therefore comparisons between the claimant numbers and appeals should be taken with caution.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 5 per cent. Samples.
	
		Average clearance time in weeks for PCA appeals from lodged to cleared in the periods shown
		
			  Clearance time 
		
		
			  
			 December 2002 to November 2003 23.53 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are subject to change as more up to date data becomes available. Figures for the latest months may rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service.
	2. Figures are rounded to two decimal places.
	Source:
	100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System.

Departmental Office (Hebburn)

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many staff will be relocated from his Department's offices in Hebburn;
	(2)  how many people will be employed at replacement sites for work previously undertaken at his Department's offices in Hebburn;
	(3)  where the replacement sites for the Department's offices in Hebburn will be located; and what the cost of relocation will be.

Maria Eagle: Inland Revenue (IR) is the major occupier of the Reyrolle Building, Hebburn with around 400 staff, and also manages the contract. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rent space at Hebburn to accommodate around 60 staff from Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) and The Pension Service.
	IR extended the lease on the building until 2006 to provide temporary accommodation for IR and DWP due to the ongoing redevelopment of the Longbenton estate and it will be available for occupation until then.
	DWP Estates are looking at alternative accommodation within the area for DWP staff currently working in Hebburn. Staff are being consulted and factors such as accessibility, local facilities and public transport links will be taken into account.

Departmental Relocation

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of re-location of staff to North Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to relocate Government jobs on the Department's ability to meet (a) departmental policy objectives and (b) departmental public service agreements;
	(3)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect of possible relocation of staff in his Department to North Staffordshire on (a) job creation, (b) sustainable development, (c) the local economy and (d) tackling regional economic disparities; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what plans he has to establish procedures for assessing the impact of possible relocation of staff in his Department to the regions; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 516W.

Local Government Finance (Taunton Deane)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) rent allowance, (b) council tax benefit and (c) non-housing revenue account rent allowance actual settlement was for Taunton Deane borough council for 2003–04; and what the provisional settlement for each was for 2004–05.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.
	All funding relating to indirect Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit subsidy will transfer to this Department from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in April 2004. As a result, we have reviewed all current subsidy rates and rules and will pay all Housing benefit and Council Tax Benefit subsidy direct to authorities from April. DWP Circular S9/2003 sets out all the changes in detail and explains the transitional protection measures to be put in place to protect local authorities who may receive less funding under the new rules. A copy of the circular is available in the Library.

Pension Payments (Edinburgh)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in the (a) City of Edinburgh local authority area and (b) Edinburgh West constituency have been written to by his Department regarding direct payment; how many have opted for a Post Office card account; how many have opted to have their money paid into a normal or new basic bank account; and how many have yet to express a preference.

Chris Pond: We do not have the information in the format requested. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Key figures on the progress of conversion to Direct Payment are available in the Library, updated every four weeks.

Women's Pensions

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of women's pension provision.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Crosby (Mrs. Curtis-Thomas) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 505W.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 15 December 2003 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Muhammed Hussain Ahmed.

Chris Mullin: I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary replied to my right hon. Friend's letter of 15 December 2003 on 13 January 2004.

Democratic Republic of Congo

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the steps that need to be taken to bring about peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Chris Mullin: The peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took a big step forward in 2003 with the ratification of the Global Accord (signed in Pretoria on 17 December 2002) and the inauguration of an inclusive Transitional National Government (TNG) in July 2003.
	The TNG now faces some significant challenges. These include preparation of the country for democratic elections in 2005, economic regeneration, establishing basic systems of governance to help prevent conflicts and reduce poverty, and security sector reform. The UK Government will continue to work with our partners in a co-ordinated international effort to bring lasting peace. There has also been a large increase in British aid to the DRC.

Ghana

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Ghana.

Chris Mullin: Foreign engagements for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel and occasionally not until they are under way. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister visited Ghana in February 2002 and I visited Accra in 2003.

Ghana

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Ghana.

Chris Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today.

Ghana

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that the night goggles provided by the EU to Ghana are used in accordance with the country's undertakings.

Chris Mullin: All EU members are required to assess rigorously all export licence applications on a case-by-case basis against the 1998 EU Code of Conduct on arms exports, taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time, embargoes and other announced policies. The 1998 EU Code of Conduct on arms exports is available in the Library of the House. The criteria set out the EU's commitment to take account of the risk that exports might be used for either internal repression or external aggression.
	The Ghanaian armed forces are professional and well respected. We have no reason to doubt that night vision equipment exported by the EU would be used for any other than legitimate purposes.

Iraq

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library full statements of income and expenditure by the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Bill Rammell: The International Advisory and Monitoring Board (IAMB), established under the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1483, is charged with auditing income to, and expenditure from, the Development Fund for Iraq by the Coalition Provisional Authority. The IAMB is made up of representatives from the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development. As soon as the Board has reported on the accounts, I will place a copy of their report in the Library of the House.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Israeli authorities regarding the nature of charges being brought against the soldier arrested for the killing of Mr. Tom Hurndall.

Chris Mullin: The Israeli soldier, held in connection with the shooting of Tom Hurndall, has been charged with aggravated assault, obstruction of justice and other offences. A second soldier has now been charged. We understand the Israelis are reviewing the charges in light of Mr. Hurndall's death. We are in regular contact with the family and will be discussing the response to these developments with them.

Israel

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the Israeli authorities to ensure that the family of Mr. Tom Hurndall will have access to all evidence relevant to the case.

Chris Mullin: We have pressed the Israeli authorities for a full and transparent investigation into the shooting of Tom Hurndall. My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean is writing to the Israeli authorities regarding the family's wishes to see the results of the investigation.

Israel

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel about their plans to expand illegal settlements in the occupied Golan Heights.

Bill Rammell: The Government regularly raise with the Government of Israel their concerns about continued Israeli settlement construction. Settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to a comprehensive peace in the region.

Organisation of African Unity

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve relations with the Organisation of African Unity.

Chris Mullin: The UK has increasing contact, at senior official and ministerial level, with the African Union (AU) which formally replaced the Organisation of African Unity in 2002. I met the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Professor Alpha Konare on 19 January 2004.
	The AU has set itself important objectives in promoting peace and security, governance and economic integration. The UK has provided support (£1,089,745) to the AU Conflict Management Centre and the AU's wider peacekeeping work (£5.9 million to the African Mission in Burundi, AMIB). We are also providing small-scale support to assist the current Chairman of the AU Assembly (HE Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique) with Mozambique's AU Presidency duties and English language teaching to the AU Commission Chairman.
	The UK also gives strong support to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a programme of the African Union, through our commitments under the G8 Africa Action Plan and also through financial support (£500,000) managed through a UNDP trust fund to the NEPAD Secretariat.

Occupied Territories

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government plan to provide a written statement to the International Court of Justice on the case, Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Richard Burden) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 530W. I will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

Subsidiarity

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the use of Article 308 EC as a sole legal base for European Union measures, its implications for defining the areas of competence of the Union and its implications for the principle of subsidiarity.

Denis MacShane: Article 308 requires, in order for it to be used as a legal base for action, that a proposal be necessary for the attainment of a Community objective, and have unanimous support at the Council. We have given an undertaking that where the Commission puts forward a legislative proposal citing Article 308 as its legal base, we will provide the Scrutiny Committees with the Commission's justification of this choice of legal base. Any such proposal would need to respect the principle of subsidiarity set out in Article 5 TEC.

Terrorism

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of collaboration and sharing of expertise between terrorist organisations internationally.

Denis MacShane: There are varying levels of contact between al-Qaeda and other international terrorist groups either related to al-Qaeda or sharing similar agendas, including sharing ideological ideas and expertise, and co-operating on funding, planning and facilitation. The loss of safe havens such as Afghanistan, and the successful pursuit and arrest of senior terrorists, have made this process more difficult. But terrorist individuals and groups continue to find ways to collaborate and communicate, including through use of the Internet.

Zimbabwe

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Home Office about reducing the time taken by the Home Office to respond to requests for information made by the Visa Section of the British High Commission in Harare about visa applicants.

Chris Mullin: With effect from 10 January, new procedures have been set in place to ensure that requests for information from our diplomatic posts overseas are dealt with expeditiously by the Home Office. In line with these new procedures, the Home Office will notify the Visa Section as soon as they receive the request for information and agree a timescale for providing it. It is envisaged that these measures will create a secure and faster system for exchanging information between the Visa Sections at all our posts including the British Embassy in Harare and the Home Office.

TREASURY

Mortality Statistics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from (a) circulatory disease and (b) cancer were recorded in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Paul Burstow, dated 22 January 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths from (a) circulatory disease and (b) cancer were recorded in each year since 1997.(149868)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2002. Figures for all circulatory diseases and cancer are shown in the table below for each year from 1997 to 2002.
	
		Number of deaths from circulatory diseases and cancer(10), England and Wales, 1997 to 2002(11)
		
			 Calendar year (a) Circulatory diseases (b) Cancer 
		
		
			 1997 228,443 137,618 
			 1998 226,675 138,306 
			 1999 219,087 136,181 
			 2000 207,228 134,793 
			 2001(12) 211,842 139,135 
			 2002(12) 209,433 140,174 
		
	
	(10) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9)for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 and 2002. The codes used are listed below:
	Diseases of the circulatory system—/CD-9 390–459; ICD-10100–199;
	Neoplasms—1CD-9 140–239; ICD-10 COO-D48.
	(11) Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(12) The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 means that data for circulatory diseases and cancer are not completely comparable with data for years before this date. The data should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of change in classification in 2001 on deaths from these causes is described in a report published in May 2002.*
	Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health
	Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75–83.

Child Care

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance with child care costs is provided through the child care element of the working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The child care element of the working tax credit can provide help with up to 70 per cent. of eligible child care costs subject to weekly maximum limits. For one child the maximum cost that a family can claim for is £135 a week, increasing to £200 a week for the costs of two or more children. This means that the maximum weekly value of the child care element is £94.50 for one child and £140 for two or more children.

Double Taxation Agreement (Switzerland)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the standard for exchange of information set out in the Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Switzerland.

Dawn Primarolo: In broad terms, the Agreement provides for each country to exchange such information at their disposal as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of the Agreement so long as doing so would not disclose any trade, business, banking, industrial or professional secret or trade process and would not be at variance with the regulations and practice of either country.

Double Taxation Agreement (Switzerland)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the current Double Taxation Agreement between the UK and Switzerland of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Report on Improving Access to Bank Information for Tax Purposes: The 2003 Progress Report, with particular reference to exchange of information on criminal, civil and administrative matters.

Dawn Primarolo: This Government are committed to effective exchange of information between countries as a vital tool in the fight against cross border tax evasion and avoidance. We have been at the forefront of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's initiative on improving access to bank information for tax purposes. We shall continue to urge those countries that have not yet taken the necessary steps to allow appropriate access to bank information for all tax purposes, to do so as soon as possible.

Double Taxation Agreement (Switzerland)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what agreements the Government have entered into with Switzerland in compliance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development standard for exchange of information for tax purposes by 2006.

Dawn Primarolo: The UK has entered into no such agreements.

Double Taxation Agreement (Switzerland)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances the Government has given to Switzerland in relation to the EU Directive on the Taxation of Savings Income, under the Double Taxation Agreement, with particular reference to exchange of information in criminal, civil and adminstrative matters.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government has not given any assurances to Switzerland under the Double Taxation Agreement in relation to the EU Directive on the Taxation of Savings Income.

Employer Compliance Review

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of the Inland Revenue's Employer Compliance Review.

Dawn Primarolo: Employer compliance operations are under continuous review through the Inland Revenue's quality assurance programme.
	Reviews of specific employers are confidential.

Financial Services (Mutual Ownership)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department plans to review the role of mutual ownership in the investment sector; what steps he is taking to ensure that investors have a choice of mutual ownership in that sector; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Government recognise the contribution of the mutual sector, in competition with other service providers, to providing greater choice and diversity in the market. In the current market, consumers have a choice of ownership model for their investment.

Fuel Tax

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the tax revenue which would be lost if the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs target for conversion of petrol cars to liquid petroleum gas was achieved.

John Healey: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does not have a target for conversion of petrol cars to liquid petroleum gas.

Fuel Tax

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised in the last financial year from (a) four star petrol, (b) unleaded petrol and (c) liquid petroleum gas used in vehicles.

John Healey: The revenue raised by the Exchequer from fuel duties is published by HM Customs and Excise at www.uktradeinfo.com in the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin. The amounts for financial year 2002–03 are:
	(a) 1.6 million from leaded petrol 1 ;
	(b) 10.7 million from unleaded petrol;
	(c) 8.1 million from road fuel gases 2
	1 Revenue from leaded petrol is approximately equivalent to that from four star but includes other grades.
	2 Revenue from road fuel gases includes that from liquid petroleum gas (approximately 96 per cent.) and compressed natural gas (approximately 4 per cent.).

Income and Corporation Taxes Act

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax revenue was raised under section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 in the last year; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Income and Corporation Taxes Act/IR35

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation he carried out before introducing the IR35 regulation. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: The intention to legislate the tax treatment of people working through intermediaries was announced in the 1999 Budget, a year before the changes were due to take effect. This was followed by extensive consultation. By the end of August 1999, the Inland Revenue had provided over 1,800 copies of the original proposals to whoever asked for them, and held consultative meetings with 38 representative bodies. Over 1,700 written comments and suggestions were received, considered and used to inform development of the intermediaries legislation.

Income and Corporation Taxes Act/IR35

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation he carried out before reinterpreting section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: There has been no reinterpretation of Section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. The Inland Revenue published in April 2003 guidance on their existing interpretation.

Income and Corporation Taxes Act/IR35

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress of (a) the IR35 regulation and (b) section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 regulation in securing additional tax revenue. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: Those covered by the intermediaries legislation are required to register with the Inland Revenue as employers and to operate PAYE/NIC in accordance with the legislation. The Inland Revenue does not routinely collect data in respect of specific types of employer from either PAYE/NIC returns or in respect of its Employer Compliance Review programme. It is therefore not possible to isolate the increase to the exchequer arising from this legislation. Information on the amount of tax charged under Section 660A Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 is not available.

Inland Revenue

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what account is taken of best practice in relation to dealing with people with disabilities in leaflets produced by the Inland Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue advertises the availability of leaflets in different formats on their internet site and in most leaflets. Some leaflets, such as the one about blind person's allowance, follow RNIB guidelines as standard.

Inland Revenue

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Inland Revenue has to introduce a leaflet available (a) in hard copy and (b) on the Inland Revenue website explaining revenue help for those with special needs and indicating the main areas of tax legislation giving reliefs for those with disabilities.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue are researching the most appropriate methods, including leaflets, of effectively publicising the help available to those with special needs. The Inland Revenue have been working with the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group on this issue.

Inland Revenue

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Orderline of the Inland Revenue is able to (a) take orders for large print editions of the most commonly requested leaflets and forms and (b) arrange for delivery on request.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue are researching the most appropriate routes, including the Orderline, for taxpayers with special needs to obtain material in different formats. Currently they are asked to contact their Inland Revenue office or local Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre, if they require specialised products.

Inland Revenue

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) large print, (b) audio and (c) braille products are available on request from the Inland Revenue; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Yes, large print, audio and braille products are available on request from the Inland Revenue. Currently the Inland Revenue are researching the most appropriate routes, including the Orderline, Inland Revenue offices and Inland Revenue Enquiry Centres, for taxpayers with special needs to obtain material in different formats.

Local Authority Housing Debt (Scotland)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much local authority housing debt he has written off to date under the special stock transfer arrangements for Scotland.

Paul Boateng: Under the stock transfer arrangements, which are broadly similar to those in England, £1,055 million has been provided to repay local authority housing debt.

National Savings

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many National Savings Ordinary Accounts have been (a) opened and (b) closed in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Ruth Kelly: The number of National Savings and Investments Ordinary Accounts opened and closed in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number opened Number closed 
		
		
			 1999 228,432 436,295 
			 2000 235,293 440,686 
			 2002 216,057 445,067 
			 2002 197,938 449,447 
			 2003 201,169 415,840

Tax Collection

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what targets he has set for securing additional tax revenue from investigations under (a) the IR35 regulation and (b) section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 regulation. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: The Chancellor has not set any targets for securing additional tax revenue from investigations under the intermediaries legislation or Section 660A Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988.

Tax Collection

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place to monitor the progress of investigations under (a) the IR35 regulation and (b) section 660A of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 regulation. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue has procedures in place to monitor all enquiry work including the intermediaries legislation and S660A Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. These procedures include regular reviews by the case officers and their line managers plus reviews by more senior officers in certain cases.

Tax Collection

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what penalties exist for late payment of tax; and how many times in each of the last five years these penalties have been used; [R]
	(2)  how many fines have been imposed for late payment of taxes in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: Whilst tax paid late might attract interest or surcharge, the tax legislation does not impose penalties or fines for late payment of tax.

Tax Avoidance

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that companies do not avoid paying tax in the UK; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that individuals do not avoid their tax responsibilities; and if he will make a statement. [R]

Dawn Primarolo: This Government are committed to tackling avoidance of tax and has introduced a number of anti-avoidance measures. We continue to monitor the position and shall not hesitate to introduce further legislation to protect the tax base when it is necessary to do so.

Working Tax Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for the working tax credit by (a) single persons and (b) couples without children there are in each region and nation of the UK; and if he will estimate how many will be eligible in each (i) region and (ii) country of the UK.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of couples and single adults receiving Child and Working Tax Credits in each country within the United Kingdom and in each region of England is shown at Table 8.1 of "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics. October 2003", which is on the Inland Revenue web site at www.inlandrevenue.aov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.
	Estimates for January 2004 will be published on 30 January 2004. No estimates will be available of the take-up rate of these tax credits until the Family Resources Survey for 2003–04 becomes available.

HEALTH

Infertility

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  by what means the Government will ensure implementation of the forthcoming National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guidance on the treatment and management of infertility;
	(2)  whether it is the Government's policy that infertility services should be made available on the NHS to all those with a clinical need.

Melanie Johnson: The second draft of the guideline produced by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) was published on 26 August 2003. NICE is considering comments made on that draft. It would not be appropriate to comment on implementation until NICE publishes its final guideline.

Bristol Royal Infirmary (Heart Surgery Inquiry)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will now respond substantively to recommendations 192 to 197 of the Report of the Public Inquiry into Children's Heart Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

Stephen Ladyman: These recommendations were considered by the paediatric and congenital cardiac services review group which was established in March 2001. The report of the review group, which was published on 18 December 2003, offered advice on ways to ensure that standards are maintained and improved, based on the recommendations from this Inquiry. The report has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department of Health's website at www.doh.gsi.gov.uk/childcardiac
	The review group did not support recommendation 197 that surgical services for children with very rare congenital heart conditions, or involving procedures undertaken very rarely, should only be performed in a maximum of two units and instead made their own recommendations for introducing new procedures.
	With one exception, a recommendation to only keep centres carrying out at least 300 operations per year, the Government accepted all the review group's recommendations.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been commissioned by the National Care Standards Commission to inspect care homes for the elderly; and what the full-time equivalent is.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) does not commission inspectors or inspections. It fulfils its statutory inspection duty by employing 1,501 inspectors. This is the full-time equivalent of 1,414 people. In addition, the NCSC employs 79 locums.

Crisis Resolution Teams

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the NHS Plan paragraph 14.31, how many crisis resolution teams have been established; and of these teams, how many are able to offer a 24-hour service.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 January 2004
	According to the Durham mental health service mapping database (http://www.dur.ac.uk/service.mapping/amh), there are 132 crisis resolution teams currently in operation, 81 of which are offering a 24-hour service.

Dentistry

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the impact that an increased proportion of women in the dental workforce has had on the availability of full-time equivalent practising dentists.

Rosie Winterton: The number of male dentists in the general dental service has increased during the past 10 years from 11,819 dentists at September 1993 to 12,607 at September 2003. The number of female dentists has increased from 3,954 to 5,93O. The female proportion has risen from 25 per cent. to 32 per cent. The implications are discussed in the report of the Dental Workforce Review, which we will be publishing shortly.

Diabetes (South Sefton)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether South Sefton's Primary Care Organisation has appointed a clinical champion for diabetes;
	(2)  what the percentage is of general practitioners providing (a) diabetes clinics and (b) other forms of structured diabetes care for South Sefton Primary Care Trust;
	(3)  whether people with diabetes are able to have (a) blood glucose tests with results on the same day, (b) urine tests with results on the same day, (c) access on the same day to specialist expertise within primary care and (d) access to equipment for retinopathy screening with interpretation on the same day, under South Sefton Primary Care Trust;
	(4)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Organisation has a protocol for the transfer of young people with diabetes from paediatric services to adult services;
	(5)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Organisation has a local diabetes implementation and planning group to lead service commissioning;
	(6)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Organisation (a) has a population-based register and (b) uses general practitioners' practice-based registers;
	(7)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Organisation has a strategy for early identification of people with diabetes;
	(8)  whether the South Sefton Primary Care Trust provided training in the management of diabetes in the last two years for (a) general practitioners and (b) diabetes clinics;
	(9)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Trust provides joint specialist diabetes and obstetric clinics for people in the area;
	(10)  whether the South Sefton Primary Care Trust provides joint specialist renal and diabetes clinics for people with diabetes who have renal complications;
	(11)  how often people are routinely recalled for retinopathy screening by South Sefton Primary Care Trust; and whether digital cameras are used;
	(12)  what percentage of people with diabetes were screened in the period April 2002 to March 2003 by South Sefton Primary Care Trust;
	(13)  whether people with diabetes in the South Sefton Primary Care Trust area are invited to diabetes education sessions with a healthcare professional;
	(14)  what written information is available on (a) diabetes, (b) self-management of diabetes, (c) personal diabetes record and care plans, (d) local diabetes services, (e) outcomes of care and (f) Diabetes UK to people diagnosed with diabetes by South Sefton Primary Care Trust; and in what languages this material is available;
	(15)  whether South Sefton Primary Care Trust's register enables the call and recall of invitations for people with diabetes to attend services;
	(16)  whether people with diabetes in the South Sefton Primary Care Trust area are able to access (a) routine diabetes care and (b) risk factor monitoring in a single visit;
	(17)  whether the South Sefton Primary Care Trust provides foot care clinics for those at high risk of developing lower limb complications.

Melanie Johnson: This information is not collected centrally. However it can be obtained from the following website: www.drfoster.co.uk/diabetes/objectlist.aspx?obid = 271&w= 1&p=1.
	The website can be accessed via www.diabetes.org.uk.

Down's Syndrome

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) funding and (b) other support there is for parents with children with Down's Syndrome; what plans he has to increase (i) funding and (ii) other support; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Over £3 billion a year is spent on health and social services for people with learning disabilities, including those with Down's Syndrome. People with Down's Syndrome also use mainstream health and social services and benefit from increased expenditure on those services.
	People with Down's Syndrome and their family carers will also benefit from our proposals for improving services for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers as set out in the White Paper "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001. "Valuing People" sets out a comprehensive five year strategy to be implemented by the Government and by local agencies.
	The White Paper also announced the creation of two new funds to support its priorities; the Implementation Support Fund (ISF) of £2.3 million a year from April 2001 and the Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF), comprising of £23.1 million revenue and £20 million capital in 2003–04. Our annual report on learning disability, "Making Change Happen" (HC 514), published in April 2003, announced that the ISF would continue until March 2006. The LDDF will also continue until March 2006.
	Families of children with Down's Syndrome have also benefited from Government programmes to support disabled children. As part of the "Quality Protects" (QP) programme, the disabled children's ringfenced grant rose from £15 million last year to £30 million this year. This, along with the yearly rises in the Carer's Grant, is leading to increases in the levels of provision of short term breaks for parents of disabled children. Direct payments were introduced in the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000; one of the key aims is to give families greater choice and flexibility in how they receive services, including the range of short term breaks. As part of the development of national service framework for children, the Government are considering how best to support the particular needs of families with disabled children, who require flexible services responsive to their particular needs.
	The Down's Syndrome Association has been awarded a grant of £28,000 for a two year project, "Planning for a Healthy Life". The project aims to produce web-based information on the specific health issues that need to be taken into account in health action planning for people with Down's Syndrome by medical students, general practitioners and health workers.
	People with Down's Syndrome and their family carers will also benefit from the outcome of this project.

Environmental Impact Study

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will commission a study on the environmental impact of staff and service users across the NHS.

Melanie Johnson: It is Government policy that environmental considerations must be properly taken into account in all the activities and services provided by the national health service. It is for each individual hospital trust to undertake environmental impact assessments for the services it provides and the facilities used by its staff and service users.

Health and Social Services (Lincolnshire)

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding (a) in absolute terms and (b) per head of population has been made available in (i) Lincolnshire and (ii) England for the provision of adult social services in each year since 1995.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Resources provided for adult social services(13)
		
			  Total adult resources (£ million) Total per head of population (£) 
		
		
			 Lincolnshire   
			 1995–96 60 125 
			 1996–97 67 139 
			 1997–98 72 148 
			 1998–99 73 149 
			 1999–2000 78 156 
			 2000–01 82 163 
			 2001–02 88 173 
			 2002–03 105 204 
			 2003–04 114 221 
			 2004–05 121 232 
			
			 England   
			 1995–96 5,220 140 
			 1996–97 5,746 154 
			 1997–98 6,081 162 
			 1998–99 6,458 172 
			 1999–2000 6,827 181 
			 2000–01 7,176 189 
			 2001–02 7,701 201 
			 2002–03 8,766 228 
			 2003–04 9,527 246 
			 2004–05 10,117 260 
		
	
	(13) The funding figures include both FSS and grants. The figures include some grants which can be used to support all social care services. These are Carers, Training Support Programme, Human Resources Development Strategy, Performance Fund and National Training Strategy Grants. It is not possible to split these grants between adult and children's services.

Health Services (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with dementia were in residential care in Lancashire in the last year for which figures are available; and how many people were funded by the NHS.

Melanie Johnson: There were about 80 people with dementia receiving residential care in Lancashire in 2001–02. Information on the number of people with dementia in residential care funded by the national health service is not available.

Health Services (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses work in the (i) Preston and (ii) Chorley hospitals; and what the pay costs were for each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: The table shows the numbers and pay costs of doctors and nurses working in Preston and Chorley hospitals for the last three years of available data.
	It should be noted that mental health services and acute services in this area were restructured in 2001–02, with some doctors and nurses previously counted within the returns for the acute trusts transferring to other trusts without hospital based care.
	
		Staffing numbers and costs as at September
		
			  Doctors Cost Nurses Cost 
		
		
			 2000–01 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 355 19,265.4 1,256 26,285.5 
			 Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust 118 8,311.5 772 20,267.5 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust —  —  
			 Total cost  27,576.9  46,553.0 
			  
			 2001–02 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 348 22,277.1 1,330 30,616.0 
			 Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust 142 9,091.6 603 17,713.8 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust —  —  
			 Total cost  31,814.3  53,102.4 
			  
			 2002–03(14) 
			 Preston Acute Hospitals NHS Trust —  —  
			 Chorley & South Ribble NHS Trust —  —  
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 484 34,444.0 1,915 48,746.7 
			 Total cost  36,298.7  74,330.4 
		
	
	(14) 2002–03 cost data is provisional
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Intermediate Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason figures are not available for the number of people who received intermediate care in 2000–01;
	(2)  for what reason figures are not available for the number of intermediate care beds there were in 2000–01.

Stephen Ladyman: The NHS Plan announced targets for intermediate care services in July 2000. A detailed retrospective survey was undertaken by the Department to establish baseline figures for 1999–2000. From April 2001, formalised data collecting began, following the publication of defining criteria in the January 2001 circular (HSC 2001/01: LAC(2001)1).

Lung Cancer

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) detection, (b) diagnosis and (c) treatment of lung cancer; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 20 January 2004
	Early detection of all cancers improves a patient's chance of survival. In March 2000, "Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer" were published and sent to all general practitioners in order to help them identify those patients who are most likely to have cancer, so that they can be referred urgently to a specialist. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is in the process of updating these guidelines. The update is due to be published in February 2005.
	In order to ensure that high quality services for cancer patients are provided across the country, the NHS Cancer Plan set out the following broad approach, which addresses the diagnosis process and treatment:
	the development of a comprehensive package of guidance ("Improving Outcomes" guidance) on services which are most likely to improve outcomes for different types of cancer;
	the translation of this guidance into measurable national standards (the "Manual of Cancer Standards"); and
	a national programme of peer review to ensure compliance with these standards.
	"Improving Outcomes Guidance on Lung Cancer" was published by the Department in 1998 and lung cancer services were peer reviewed on the resulting standards in 2001. The "Manual of Cancer Standards" is currently being updated and a three-year rolling programme of cancer peer review against this manual is expected to start in autumn 2004. In addition, NICE is preparing clinical guidelines for the national health service in England and Wales for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. This is expected to be published in November 2004. NICE has also appraised four chemotherapy drugs for treatment of lung cancer and is in the process of appraising a fifth.
	The work of the Modernisation Agency's Cancer Services Collaborative 'Improvement Partnership' (CSC 'IP') is central to the drive to improve the detection, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. A specific goal of the CSC 'IP' is to promote early diagnosis of lung cancer.
	In November 2003, the establishment of a Lung Cancer Advisory Group was announced. This group, which will be meeting in March, will be chaired by Professor Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director and will advise on the development and delivery of lung cancer services, including relevant elements of the NHS Cancer Plan.

Merseyside Health Action Zone

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projects and their associated funding arising from the Merseyside Health Action Zone (MHAZ) since 1997; what the total amount allocated to MHAZ is; and how many administrative posts are required to administer the funding.

Melanie Johnson: A copy of the information requested on Merseyside Health Action Zones (MHAZ) projects and associated funding has been placed in the Library.
	The Department does not hold information relating to the number of administrative posts that were required to administer the funding.

NHS Direct

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many calls relating to colds or influenza were made to NHS Direct in each week in November and December to date, broken down by the age groups (a) 0 to 4, (b) 5 to 14, (c) 15 to 44, (d) 45 to 64 and (e) 65 years and over.

Rosie Winterton: The number of calls relating to colds or influenza that were made to NHS Direct in each week in November and December are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Age groups 
			 Week 0–4 5–14 15–44 45–64 65+ Total (all ages) 
		
		
			 2003   
			 27 October to 2 November 97 129 789 211 110 1,336 
			 3 November to 9 November 95 159 818 235 132 1,439 
			 10 November to 16 November 112 280 820 238 109 1,559 
			 17 November to 23 November 97 240 736 248 113 1,434 
			 24 November to 30 November 92 182 635 217 100 1,226 
			 1 December to 7 December 120 252 646 229 103 1,350 
			 8 December to 14 December 73 129 537 183 84 1,006 
			 15 December to 21 December 61 96 524 192 113 986 
			 22 December to 28 December 85 108 683 290 235 1,401 
			 Total—27 November to 28 December 2003 832 1,575 6,188 2,043 1,099 11,737 
		
	
	The figures provided in the answer are the total number of calls where a NHS Direct nurse has used the cold/flu clinical algorithm. These totals do not include NHS Direct callers with a cold or influenza where the NHS Direct nurse has not used the 'cold/flu' algorithm.

NHS Direct

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he has collated on the use of NHS Direct (a) broken down by region and (b) within the constituency of Middlesbrough, South and Cleveland, East.

Rosie Winterton: NHS Direct usage figures broken down by NHS Direct site for the last six months (July to December 2003) are shown in the table.
	
		Calls answered by site by month for July 2003—December 2003
		
			 Site Calls answered 
		
		
			 Anglia 112,024 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 127,050 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 132,909 
			 East Midlands 199,630 
			 Essex 165,545 
			 Hampshire 146,462 
			 Kent, Surrey, Sussex 211,104 
			 Manchester 210,333 
			 North and Central London 94,865 
			 North East 158,149 
			 North East London 77,912 
			 North West Coast 193,686 
			 South East London 93,783 
			 South West London 74,757 
			 South Yorkshire And South Humberside 120,679 
			 Staffordshire 148,258 
			 Tees, East and North Yorkshire 115,786 
			 Thames Valley and Northamptonshire 136,650 
			 West Country 188,582 
			 West London 133,384 
			 West Midlands 140,232 
			 West Yorkshire 172,411 
			 Grand total 3,154,191 
		
	
	The constituencies of Middlesbrough, South and East, Cleveland are covered by Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust (PCT). For the last six months, NHS Direct Tees, East and North Yorkshire have handled approximately 5,500 calls from patients located in the Middlesbrough PCT area.

Post Mortems

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the scoping study on less invasive approaches to post mortem examination referred to on the Chief Medical Officer's webpage.

Rosie Winterton: The Chief Medical Officer recommended that research should be commissioned into less invasive forms of post mortem examination. In order to take this work forward a scoping study was commissioned by the Department of Health. This will be published shortly and a copy will then be placed in the Library.

Stroke (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many stroke consultants are employed in the NHS in Gloucestershire; what plans there are to increase this number; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information for consultants in the specialties cardiology, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, geriatric medicine, neurology, and rehabilitation medicine within Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is shown in the table.
	In line with our policy of shifting the balance of power it is now for primary care trusts, in partnership with SHAs and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community. I am informed by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA that there are no current plans for the recruitment of additional stroke consultants in Gloucestershire.
	
		Hospital, Public Health Medicine and Community Health Services (HCHS): Consultants within Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA by organisation and specified specialties -- Number (headcount)
		
			   Cardiology Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics Geriatric medicine 
			   2001 2002 June 2003 2001 2002 June 2003 2001 2002 June 2003 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 15 22 24 1 2 2 24 36 42 
			 Of which:  
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 RA3 Weston Area NHS Trust 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 
			 RA7 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 4 6 6 0 1 0 4 5 5 
			 RD1 Royal United Hospitals, Bath NHS Trust 2 3 3 1 1 1 1 5 7 
			 RH6 Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 RN3 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 2 4 3 0 0 1 6 4 5 
			 RNZ Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 3 
			 RTE Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 4 4 0 0 0 0 7 9 
			 RVJ North Bristol NHS Trust 2 2 5 0 0 0 3 11 11 
		
	
	
		Number (headcount)
		
			   Neurology Rehabilitation medicine 
			   2001 2002 June 2003 2001 2002 June 2003 
		
		
			  Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA 11 14 13 0 3 0 
			 Of which:   
			 5FL Bath and North East Somerset PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 RA3 Weston Area NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 RA7 United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 RD1 Royal United Hospitals, Bath NHS Trust 3 3 2 0 0 0 
			 RH6 Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 0 
			 RN3 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 1 1 1 0 0 0 
			 RNZ Salisbury Health Care NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 3 0 
			 RTE Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 3 3 0 0 0 
			 RVJ North Bristol NHS Trust 4 6 6 0 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Data for 2001 and 2002 as at 30 September, data for 2003 as at 30 June.
	Source:
	Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.

Tuna (Mercury Contamination)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of research undertaken by the US Food and Drug Administration into mercury contamination of tuna;
	(2)  what advice his Department gives to consumers on the consumption of tuna, with particular reference to mercury content.

Melanie Johnson: The Food Standards Agency advises that pregnant and breast-feeding women, and women who intend to become pregnant, should limit their consumption of tuna to no more than two medium size cans (drained weight approximately 140 g.) or one fresh tuna steak per week as a precaution due to the mercury content. Other consumers do not need to limit their consumption of tuna. This is in line with advice issued by the US Food and Drug Administration on fish consumption, based on surveys of the mercury content of fish.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-Social Behaviour

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding anti-social behaviour over Halloween.

Hazel Blears: I have previously received a few representations about anti-social behaviour over the Halloween period. In particular the issues surrounding the increase of Trick or Treating by children.
	The majority of children enjoy Halloween without causing problems to their community.
	Where any individual causes anti-social behaviour at any time of year we are determined that their behaviour is challenged and stopped, and we have provided the tools to ensure this happens.

Anti-Social Behaviour

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  which provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 will be brought into force on (a) 20 January and (b) 27 February;
	(2)  what steps he has taken to ensure that Chief Constables and the Crown Prosecution Service are fully aware of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 provisions that come into force on (a) 20 January and (b) 27 February;
	(3)  when the timetable giving the dates for commencement of the sections of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 that are not yet in force will be published; and which sections of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 have not yet been subject to commencement orders.

Hazel Blears: We published "Together-Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour: A Guide to the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003" on 20 January 2004. This explains the Act's contents, how it can be used to deal with the anti-social behaviour and provides commencement dates for all measures in the Act. Copies of the Act will be sent to all Chief Constables in England and Wales and to the Crown Prosecution Service. Copies have also been sent to all Members of Parliament today.

Burglars

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of burglars who are convicted in each of the areas of England and Wales are sentenced to prison.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is contained in the table.
	Courts will approach the decision to sentence for offences of burglary on the basis of guidelines issued by the Court of Appeal in December 2002 and the Magistrates' Courts Sentencing Guidelines issued by the Magistrates' Association (most recent version effective from 1 January 2004). These Guidelines assist the courts in adopting a consistent approach. The new Sentencing Guidelines Council will take on responsibility for these guidelines and for monitoring the way in which the guidelines are used in order to ensure that there is a common approach to sentencing.
	
		Number of persons sentenced for burglary(15) at all courts and those sentenced to immediate custody, by police force area, England and Wales 2002
		
			 Police force area Total persons sentenced for burglary (16)Persons sentenced to immediate custody Percentage sentenced to immediate custody 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Avon and Somerset 695 379 55 
			 Bedfordshire 224 131 58 
			 Cambridgeshire 335 174 52 
			 Cheshire 500 288 58 
			 Cleveland 677 377 56 
			 Cumbria 253 120 47 
			 Derbyshire 533 290 54 
			 Devon and Cornwall 526 188 36 
			 Dorset 244 131 54 
			 Durham 432 217 50 
			 Essex 434 230 53 
			 Gloucestershire 247 93 38 
			 Greater Manchester 1,614 816 51 
			 Hampshire 776 310 40 
			 Hertfordshire 314 145 46 
			 Humberside 579 318 55 
			 Kent 489 220 45 
			 Lancashire 1,223 610 50 
			 Leicestershire 458 212 46 
			 Lincolnshire 323 137 42 
			 London, City of 27 14 52 
			 Merseyside 650 358 55 
			 Metropolitan Police 3,234 1,776 55 
			 Norfolk 261 109 42 
			 Northamptonshire 237 122 51 
			 Northumbria 927 389 42 
			 North Yorkshire 300 162 54 
			 Nottinghamshire 747 356 48 
			 South Yorkshire 937 523 56 
			 Staffordshire 534 301 56 
			 Suffolk 235 89 38 
			 Surrey 191 88 46 
			 Sussex 402 214 53 
			 Thames Valley 744 360 48 
			 Warwickshire 187 95 51 
			 West Mercia 494 246 50 
			 West Midlands 1,862 1,039 56 
			 West Yorkshire 1,598 873 55 
			 Wiltshire 233 92 39 
			 Dyfed Powys 214 77 36 
			 Gwent 384 146 38 
			 North Wales 317 147 46 
			 South Wales 785 388 49 
			 England and Wales 26,376 13,350 51 
		
	
	(15) These data are on the principal offence basis
	(16) Detention and training order, detention in a young offender institution, detention under secs 91/92 of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 and unsuspended imprisonment.

Coroner's Court Hearings (South Gloucestershire)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that coroner's court hearings affecting residents of South Gloucestershire will take place at locations convenient for residents of South Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 19 January 2004
	Any decision to hold an inquest at a particular location is a matter for the coroner concerned. I understand that following the closure of the coroner's court in Bristol the office has transferred to a site in Long Ashton. However, the inquest may be held at other locations subject to the needs of those wishing to attend and availability of accommodation.

Crime (North-West)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) theft and (b) robbery of school property there were in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside, (iii) the north west region and (iv) England in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not collect information on the type of location for recorded crimes, except where it is implicit in the crime type (e.g. theft from a shop, or shop-lifting). It also does not collect information on ownership of property stolen. For these reasons, numbers of robberies and thefts involving school property are not collected separately.

Disability Discrimination Act

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what incentives he is giving trusts to stay within the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 not to discriminate against deaf people in terms of equitable access.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	Trusts are responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA), including the provision of equitable access for deaf people. There are a number of means by which the Department and others continue to help them.
	In 1999, the National Health Service Executive issued management guidance to NHS trusts, health authorities and primary care groups in implementing Part III of the DDA and a guide "Doubly Disabled" was published to increase managers' and staff's awareness of disabled people.
	Currently, the Department is developing with the Disability Rights Commission a framework for partnership action on disability, which identifies key areas for joint action. This will deliver real improvements for disabled people as users and providers of health and social care. Access and communication has been identified as a priority and the Department is establishing a working group to oversee a range of initiatives on access, including the production of sector-specific guidance on good practice, and a programme to promote awareness of the access duties set out in the DDA. The NHSU is also working closely with the Disability Rights Commission and others to develop a framework and programme to address training on disabilities issues in health and social care.

Ford Open Prison

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners absconded from Ford Open Prison in each year since 1990.

Paul Goggins: Information is available from 1992. The information recorded at Prison Service headquarters on the reported numbers of absconds from HMP Ford is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Year Number of prisoners absconding from HMP Ford 
		
		
			 1992 59 
			 1993 39 
			 1994 40 
			 1995 20 
			 1996 46 
			 1997 51 
			 1998 41 
			 1999 56 
			 2000 69 
			 2001 50 
			 2002 86 
			 2003 127 
		
	
	Figures are as recorded on the Prison Service incident reporting system and may not be entirely reliable, particularly prior to 1998 when changes were made to the electronic database.

Forensic Science Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the Forensic Science Service is contracted out to private operators in (a) Lancashire, (b) Cumbria, (c) Cheshire, (d) Greater Manchester, (e) Merseyside and (f) North Wales in 2003–04.

Hazel Blears: The Forensic Science Service (FSS) has not contracted out any work received from the named police forces to private sector forensic service providers in the financial year to date.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Home Detention Curfew.

Paul Goggins: The operation of the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme is monitored on a weekly basis. Between January 1999, when the scheme was introduced, and 9 January 2004, over 86,000 prisoners have been released under the Home Detention Curfew scheme. At any one time about 3,600 low risk prisoners, who would otherwise be filling prison places, are serving the last part of the custodial portion of their sentence on HDC.
	Since the scheme began 90 per cent. of those granted HDC have completed their curfew period without any problems at all and 2 per cent. are reported as having been convicted, cautioned or are awaiting prosecution for an offence committed whilst subject to HDC.
	In addition, the Home Office published an evaluation of the operation of the first sixteen months of the scheme in June 2001 (Home Office Research Study 222: "Electronic Monitoring of released prisoners: an evaluation of the Home Detention Curfew scheme").
	I am satisfied that the scheme continues successfully to provide suitable prisoners with a smoother and more effective re-integration back into the community by enabling them to be released from prison early while still subject to restrictions placed on their liberty.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his written statement of 14 January, Official Report, column 31WS, what other recent exceptional cases may be deemed unsuitable for the Home Detention Curfew Scheme.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 20 January 2004
	No cases have, so far, been referred to the Chief Executive, of the National Offender Management Service. The policy will apply to any case where the applicant for Home Detention Curfew has been involved in a notorious crime or crime of concern to the public, where release would bring the scheme in to disrepute. Prisoners affected by this change will be able to make representations supporting their release to the Chief Executive of NOMS.
	We expect that only a small number of cases will be referred to the Chief Executive.

Imprisonment (Costs)

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost to public funds of the imprisonment of Sally Clarke, Angela Cannings and Trupti Patel has been.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service does not maintain information on the cost of imprisonment of specific prisoners. However, as an alternative it is possible to provide the average cost of keeping a prisoner in the establishments in which the particular prisoners referred to in this question served their sentences. This suggests that the total cost to public funds of the imprisonment of Sally Clarke was in the region of £111,000. The cost of detaining Angela Cannings was approximately £57,000.
	Trupti Patel did not spend time in prison custody, as she was bailed upon charge and subsequently acquitted.

Juvenile Prisoners

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to ensure that juvenile prisoners are fed adequately while being transported from court to prison.

Paul Goggins: Escort contractors have a contractual responsibility to provide meals to all prisoners, including juveniles, who are in their custody between 11:30 hours and 14:00 hours; and also in circumstances, such as a late court sitting, which would result in prisoners arriving at the prison after mealtime. The contract requires that meals must be sufficient to sustain the prisoners and meet dietary needs.

Mr. Liton Miah

Jack Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the application by Mr. Liton Miah for a work permit under the business and commercial arrangements on Form WP1 (REF ISCO/BO 69511) was refused on the grounds that he was of too high a level of skill; for what reasons he was subsequently refused after applying for a work permit under the sector based schemes on the grounds that he was of too low a level of skill (REF DWA/BO 69511); and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 17 December 2003
	I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 22 January 2004.

Police National Computer

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many updates of the Police National Computer took place in each of the last three years; how many people are authorised to insert, delete or change data on the Police National Computer; what checks are in place to ensure the accuracy of (a) data changes and (b) the data held; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The number of updates of the Police National Computer for the past three years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2001 14,733,611 
			 2002 15,185,975 
			 2003 15,194,333 
		
	
	I regret that information on the number of people authorised to insert, delete or change data on the Police National Computer is not available. It is the responsibility of the Chief Officer of each police force to make the necessary arrangements.
	It is also the responsibility of Chief Officers to have in place checking processes to ensure the accuracy of the data held and any changes that are made to it. All the Forces are inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to ensure compliance with the Association of Chief Police Officers and Police National Computer Compliance Strategy. The Chief Constables' Council agreed the strategy on 27 April 2000. The Compliance Strategy sets a number of standards that forces are required to meet, in particular the entering of data on to the Police National Computer in a timely manner.

Prison Officers (Industrial Action)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking in response to the decison by prison officers across the United Kingdom to take industrial action in support of their Northern Ireland colleagues.

Paul Goggins: Following detailed negotiations, the dispute between the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Prison Officers' Association (POA) has been successfully resolved as a result, the threat of industrial action by POA members in England and Wales has been lifted.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to tackle bullying of prisoners by other inmates.

Paul Goggins: Prison Service Order 1702, Anti-Bullying Strategy, contains mandatory instructions to Governors to ensure that all prisons implement and maintain locally an appropriate, advertised anti-bullying strategy. The strategy must aim to prevent bullying behaviour and to address it constructively where it occurs.
	It is mandatory for establishments to appoint an anti-bullying co-ordinator, who is responsible for monitoring that the nature and extent of bullying in the prison. They examine a number of factors including the number of requests to move wing and the number of applications to the Independent Monitoring Board, number of assaults. They are obliged to complete at least once every two years.
	Unless the prison is particularly small, it is expected that establishments set up a multi-disciplinary anti-bullying committee that meets regularly and makes links with other related areas such as suicide prevention or the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme.
	Reducing violence, in all its forms, is fundamental to the objectives of the Prison Service. By constructively and consistently taking action to prevent violence and promote fairness and decency, prisons can offer a structured environment in which to influence future behaviour, encourage positive communication and develop social skills that assist offenders with rehabilitation. Further, maintaining a safe environment reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes individual, organisational and public confidence.
	Problems of inter-prisoner violence and bullying are being addressed through development of a Service-wide Violence Reduction Strategy. By the summer of 2004, each prison will have in place a local violence reduction strategy appropriate to needs. Intranet toolkits will help establishments to develop practical solutions, including environmental and physical measures as well as alternatives for behaviour management. Specific issues such as racism, substance misuse, violence, verbal abuse and various types of bullying will be covered with good practice examples. A whole prison approach will be encouraged, with the aim of reducing violence and fear of violence. A focus on personal safety, supporting victims, and repairing the physical and emotional harm caused by violence or abuse, will link closely with the suicide prevention strategy.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost is of keeping someone in prison per day.

Paul Goggins: The average cost per day of each prisoner during the financial year 2002–03 was £99.36. This figure covers the whole of the prison system, including public sector and contracted prisons, as well as an element of headquarters overheads.
	The cost per prisoner varies according to the security of each prison establishment and other factors such as the gender and age of the prisoner. The range of daily costs for 2002–03 was £119 to £54, with the highest being for the High Security estate and the lowest for the Category C estate, which tends to hold a more settled population.

Rehabilitation Programmes

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what number and what percentage of short-term prisoners completed a fast track rehabilitation programme during their time in prison in each of the last five years; and what plans he has to increase this percentage over the next two years.

Paul Goggins: Information is not collected specifically on treatment provision by length of stay in prison. There is currently no system to "fast track" prisoners onto rehabilitation programmes. A short duration drug treatment programme is to be piloted in April 04, giving access to short term and remand prisoners. Detoxification is available immediately on reception into prison.
	The Street Crime Initiative makes provision for prisoners to be fast tracked into drug treatment interventions. This includes CARAT services (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice & Throughcare), as well as detoxification. From April-November 2003, 2,453 prisoners were referred to CARATs. Of those, 1951 were appropriate referrals, 1,807 received an initial assessment and 898 received detoxification.

Rehabilitation Programmes

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the FOR rehabilitation programme which ran in South Wales to other areas.

Paul Goggins: The FOR resettlement programme for short-term prisoners is currently in development and being piloted in two establishments. The Prison Service will be seeking the advice of the Correctional Service Accreditation Panel on the programme and will take decisions about extending it to other areas in the light of the advice provided and resourcing available.

Scottish Police

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Scottish police officers are seconded to or are serving in a permanent capacity with UK-wide police bodies.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply.
	There are 23 Scottish police officers on secondment to the National Criminal Intelligence Service. Information is not held centrally on the number of Scottish officers seconded to or serving in other UK-wide police bodies such as the Police Information Technology Organisation and the Police Scientific Development Branch.

Terrestrial Trunked Radio

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research into the health and safety issues of terrestrial trunked radio his Department has collated since July 2001.

Hazel Blears: On the recommendation of independent experts, the Home Office set up a comprehensive programme of work on TETRA health issues. The Home Office also funds TETRA-related research as an adjunct to the Mobile Telecommunications Research Programme co-ordinated by the Department of Health.
	TETRA was found to have no effect on calcium exchanges in cells—the main concern of the Stewart report. Independent checks confirm that TETRA equipment fully conforms with health and safety regulations. Longer-term human volunteer studies are under way.

Terrestrial Trunked Radio

David Chidgey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission further research into the health and safety issues of terrestrial trunked radio masts.

Hazel Blears: The Government have no plans to commission any further research into the effects of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) masts.
	The National Radiological Protection Board's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) has recently published a report on "Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields". The report confirms that there is no reason to believe that signals from TETRA base stations should be treated differently from those from other base stations. The AGNIR experts do not suggest any further research on TETRA masts.
	Independent checks of the TETRA masts used by the new police radiocommunications system, Airwave, have confirmed that they fully comply with international health and safety guidelines.

Young Offender Institutions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children in (a) Stoke Heath and (b) Onley Young Offender Institutions have been placed in the segregation units of those Institutions since January; and for how long in each case.

Paul Goggins: Data on the number of children held in segregation at Stoke Heath and Onley Young Offender Institutions from January to November 2003 are shown in the following tables. This has been split to show the number of times the segregation unit was used for (a) less than seven days, (b) for longer than seven days and (c) for longer than 28 days during this period.
	
		Data on Stoke Heath Young Offender Institution in 2003
		
			  Number of Juveniles 
			 Month—2003 Held for less than 7 days Held for longer than7 days Held for longer than28 days 
		
		
			 January 19 7 0 
			 February 17 8 0 
			 March 15 7 0 
			 April 6 13 0 
			 May 9 7 0 
			 June 11 6 0 
			 July 13 8 0 
			 August 8 0 0 
			 September 8 7 0 
			 October 2 18 0 
			 November 0 10 0 
		
	
	
		Data on Onley Young Offender Institution in 2003
		
			  Number of Juveniles 
			 Month—2003 Held for less than 7 days Held for longer than7 days Held for longer than28 days 
		
		
			 January 10 3 0 
			 February 24 0 0 
			 March 17 0 0 
			 April 13 2 1 
			 May 43 8 0 
			 June 12 8 0 
			 July 21 9 0 
			 August 11 9 0 
			 September 9 12 0 
			 October 28 39 1 
			 November 17 7 0

Young Offender Institutions

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made to provide juvenile female prisoners with clothing.

Paul Goggins: All young women under the age of 18 in custody wear their own clothing. However, every young woman received into custody automatically receives items of underwear and nightwear. If a young woman does arrive in custody with insufficient clothing she will be given additional clothing provided by the establishment.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Minutes

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs in what circumstances decision-making meetings between civil servants and ministers are not minuted; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: Detailed policies and procedures for the creation and management of all records relating to government business are the responsibility of the department concerned. However, the National Archives has a supervisory role in ensuring the safe-keeping of historical value. In this connection the National Archives has issued 'guidance on the management of private office papers', which is available on those records which, once created, are likely to be of enduring its website at: http://www.pro.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/standards/privateoffice.htm

Sentencing Decisions

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Department of Constitutional Affairs what the Appeal Court must conclude for a sentence to be reduced.

Christopher Leslie: Section 11(3) of the Criminal Appeals Act 1968 provides that an appeal may be allowed against sentence if the appellant may be sentenced "differently'' from the way in which he was sentenced in the Crown Court. The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) will always interfere and quash a sentence if it considers it "manifestly excessive". In addition there are a number of other reasons why an appeal against sentence may succeed. Circumstances between the date of sentence and the hearing of the appeal may change. For example, the CACD may be provided with information about help given by the individual defendant to the prosecuting or prison authorities, which justifies a reduction in sentence. The CACD itself often seeks and is provided with reports from prison, which may give grounds for concluding that although the sentence imposed at the Crown Court is not open to criticism, the sentence has had the necessary impact, and is no longer appropriate. This is of particular importance where the offender is young and his rehabilitation may progress more rapidly if, having served some time in custody, a community sentence was now imposed on him. Changes in relation to sentencing policy may also affect the result of a sentence appeal, where, for example, new "guidelines" have been provided after the sentence was imposed. Other circumstances which may affect the decision of the CACD include sentences imposed following procedural errors, or those which may create a justifiable sense of grievance because of sentences passed on other defendants.

Sentencing Decisions

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many appeals (a) against sentence and (b) against conviction have been (i) successful and (ii) allowed in each of the last five years as a percentage of the total number of committals for trial for (A) the crown court and (B) magistrates court;
	(2)  how many sentencing decisions were made by each judge in the (a) crown court and (b) Court of Appeal in each of the last five years;
	(3)  how many sentencing decisions each serving circuit judge in England and Wales made in each of the last five years.

Christopher Leslie: We do not have this information in the form requested. We do not measure how many sentencing decisions individual judges make, and this will vary according to the types of case they deal with and the complexity and length of cases they hear. There are currently 604 Circuit Judges, Senior Circuit Judges and equivalents, and 1,326 Recorders; not all of whom sit in criminal cases.
	In the five years to 2002, the Crown Court dealt with the following committals for trial or sentence:
	
		Committals for trial
		
			  Receipts Disposals 
		
		
			 1998 75,815 77,794 
			 1999 74,232 73,539 
			 2000 71,022 72,762 
			 2001 80,551 75,565 
			 2002 83,449 81,776 
		
	
	
		Committals for sentence
		
			  Receipts Disposals 
		
		
			 1998 29,774 28,224 
			 1999 31,928 30,641 
			 2000 27,591 28,713 
			 2001 25,960 25,717 
			 2002 28,837 28,235 
		
	
	In the same period the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) heard the following full appeals, excluding applications for leave to appeal which were dismissed. It should be tooted that cases heard in the Court of Appeal in a given year may well not have been heard by the Crown Court in the same year.
	
		
			  Conviction Sentence: Retrials  
			  Allowed Dismissed Allowed Dismissed ordered 
		
		
			 1998 290 403 1,589 609 73 
			 1999 171 380 1,564 614 70 
			 2000 150 333 1,284 522 72 
			 2001 135 313 1,101 561 58 
			 2002 166 319 1,302 500 50 
		
	
	In the same period criminal proceedings were commenced in the magistrates' courts against the following numbers of defendants. These figures include all criminal prosecutions commenced, whether or not they were contested or proceeded to a full trial.
	
		
			 Year  
		
		
			 1998 1,951,915 
			 1999 1,881,765 
			 2000 1,904,677 
			 2001 1,837,733 
			 2002 1,924,828 
		
	
	In the same period the Crown Court heard the following numbers of appeals. These did not necessarily relate to prosecutions in magistrates' courts in the same year. These figures do not include appeals from the magistrates; courts to the High Court by way of case stated.
	
		Appeals
		
			  Receipts Disposals 
		
		
			 1998 16,278 16,473. 
			 1999 15,413 15,381 
			 2000 13,902 14,359 
			 2001 12,596 12,679 
			 2002 11,910 11,940

Correspondence

Graham Allen: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he expects to write to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North to fulfil the undertaking given by his hon. Friend, 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 666.

David Lammy: My letter of 15 January informed my hon. Friend that this is a matter for my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Nigel Griffiths), who has agreed to write in response to the points raised on 13 January.

Correspondence

Simon Burns: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Chelmsford of 21 October 2003 concerning Ms B. Quinn of Chelmsford.

Christopher Leslie: Lord Filkin wrote on 16 January 2004 to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford in response to his letter of 21 October 2003. I apologise for the delay, unfortunately administrative errors prevented an earlier reply.

Divorce

Iris Robinson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will take steps to standardise divorce court proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Christopher Leslie: Northern Ireland is a separate jurisdiction from England and Wales for the purposes of divorce proceedings. Provisions are in place for the mutual recognition of orders and the provision of financial relief as between the jurisdictions. Under the provisions of section 44 of the Family Law Act 1986 orders for divorce, nullity or judicial separation granted in one jurisdiction are recognised in the other. Under the provisions of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 and the Family Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 applications for financial relief can be made in either jurisdiction in respect of divorces panted in the other. There is also provision for the reciprocal enforcement of maintenance orders.
	There are no plans to standardise divorce law in England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

Expert Witnesses

Anne Campbell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proportion of criminal cases were overturned on appeal in each of the last five years; and what proportion involved evidence from expert witnesses.

Christopher Leslie: Figures showing (a) the number of defendants convicted in the lower courts, (b) those that appealed to the higher courts either against conviction and/or sentence and (c) the number of appeals allowed or varied are provided in the following tables. Information relating to the involvement of expert witnesses in criminal cases is not collected centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Court of Appeal
		
			  Convicted in the Crown court Lodged appeal Conviction quashed or sentence varied Appeal allowed as percentage of those convicted Appeal allowed as percentage of appeals lodged 
		
		
			 1998 63,585 8,649 1,921 3.0 22.2 
			 1999 57,615 8,274 1,690 2.9 20.4 
			 2000 56,130 7,840 1,385 2.5 17.7 
			 2001 55,164 7,440 1,202 2.2 16.2 
			 2002 58,587 7,718 1,418 2.4 18.4 
		
	
	
		Crown court
		
			  Convictedin the magistrates court Lodged appeal Conviction quashed or sentence varied Appeal allowed as percentage of those convicted Appeal allowed as percentage of appeals lodged 
		
		
			 1998 1,407,781 15,071 6,703 0.5 44.5 
			 1999 1,351,245 14,510 6,406 0.5 44.1 
			 2000 1,367,304 13,032 6,065 0.4 46.5 
			 2001 1,293,308 11,818 5,381 0.4 45.5 
			 2002 1,361,637 11,124 4,795 0.4 43.1

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  whether the Department keeps centralised records for each serving Circuit Judge of the number of successful appeals on their (a) sentencing and (b) conviction;
	(2)  what process is in place (a) to monitor how many times a judge is known to have been successfully appealed against and (b) to investigate the reasons for the appeals to find out whether they are (i) on the basis of circumstances beyond the knowledge of the judge at the time the sentence was passed and (ii) on the basis of inappropriate sentences given;
	(3)  what action would be taken in the event that (a) a judge had been successfully appealed more than 50 times in six or seven years, (b) a judge had been found to have been unduly lenient in relation to the same kind of offence on four separate occasions and (c) a judge had been criticised for pressurising counsel on more than one occasion;
	(4)  what systems are in place to ensure that circuit judges are accountable for their professional performance.

Christopher Leslie: Judicial decisions are taken and explained in public (save where the circumstances of a case demand confidentiality) and any decision which a judge makes is liable to be scrutinised, and if necessary overturned, on appeal, which is also a public process. Judges are therefore fully accountable for their judicial decisions through the appeal system.
	Judges are not, however, accountable through a political process for the decisions they take, as this would not be consistent with judicial independence. The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State therefore does not monitor appeals against decisions made by individual judges, and it is not his role to intervene in judicial decisions or consider complaints about judicial decisions.
	A successful appeal to a higher court does not of itself provide a basis for criticism of the trial judge. There are many reasons why an appeal may succeed. Where the Court of Appeal does record criticism of the trial judge, however, the judgment is given publicly and is available to representatives of the media as well as the public. It is always sent to the judge concerned, and where there is any reason for concern about the conduct of the judge it is sent to the relevant Presiding Judges. From time to time where it is thought that judges are not performing adequately they may be given advice and guidance, or training, or different workloads or types of workload by the responsible senior judiciary. Lord Justice Judge, the Deputy Chief Justice, is currently considering improvements to this procedure.
	In cases where a judge's personal conduct (as opposed to his decision) is seriously criticised in an appeal decision, the Presiding Judges may decide to refer the matter to the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice to consider. The Lord Chancellor is also able to consider complaints from the public about the personal conduct of judges.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Secretary of State has to introduce a system of formal appraisal and scrutiny of circuit judges' performances;
	(2)  whether the plans to widen the scrutiny, formal appraisal and accountability of judges will include scrutiny by, and accountability to, a body or panel which includes non-judges.

Christopher Leslie: A system of formal appraisal has been introduced for holders of certain part-time judicial posts. Consideration is now being given to extending appraisal to the remaining part-time posts including recorders. Formal appraisal is also being introduced for certain full time tribunal judges.
	The aim of any appraisal scheme is not to question judicial decisions but to observe the conduct of the judicial process and to consider, positively and constructively with a judge, their approach to and handling of cases. It is important, in order to maintain the independence of the judiciary and to ensure that appraisal is expert and informed, that it should be undertaken by judges. There are no plans to widen appraisal to include a body or panel which includes non-judges.
	The Lord Chancellor has no current plans to extend formal appraisal more widely. In relation to circuit judges, the presiding judges of each circuit are of course in a position to raise with them any concerns about their performance.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  whether a judge may be removed from office for inappropriate sentencing;
	(2)  what criteria are used to define misconduct and inability in relation to the removal of judges from office; and whether either category includes a pattern of inappropriate sentencing by a judge;
	(3)  what sanctions may be taken against circuit judges whose professional performance regularly falls below acceptable standards;
	(4)  what disciplinary procedure is followed in the event that a judge continuously sentences inappropriately.

Christopher Leslie: In order to ensure their independence judges hold office during good behaviour. Judges of the High Court and above may only be removed by Her Majesty the Queen on an address from both Houses of Parliament. Circuit judges and below may be removed from office by the Lord Chancellor only for incapacity or misbehaviour.
	What constitutes incapacity or misbehaviour would be a matter for decision in a particular case. However, the mere fact of having made decisions which had been reversed on appeal could not be said to constitute incapacity or misbehaviour.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  whether the Lord Chancellor has received complaints in relation to the use by judges of wasted costs orders;
	(2)  whether his Department keeps records of wasted costs orders imposed against barristers or solicitors.

Christopher Leslie: We have no record of receiving such complaints and keep no such records. A wasted costs order is an order of the court, and can only be challenged on appeal, not by complaining to the Lord Chancellor.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs which circuit judges are authorised to hear child custody cases; and whether any have had authorisation withdrawn because of concerns over their ability to handle such cases.

Christopher Leslie: 321 circuit judges hold 'private law authorisations' which enable them to deal with child contact and residence and other related matters. Authorisations are granted and withdrawn for a variety of reasons—most commonly they are withdrawn when the judge concerned no longer hears family cases by virtue of a changing role—such as becoming a designated civil judge for a court.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how the attention of the Lord Chief Justice is drawn to the suitability of a circuit judge to try rape cases;
	(2)  whether any circuit judges have had their rape case authorisation withdrawn because of concerns over their ability to handle such cases sensitively;
	(3)  which circuit judges hold a rape case authorisation authorising them to hear cases involving rape and other class 2 crimes;
	(4)  how many and which circuit judges and recorders have undergone additional specialist training that enables them to hear cases involving rape and other serious sexual offences;
	(5)  how the (a) effectiveness and (b) suitability of specialist training given to circuit judges and recorders is monitored.

Christopher Leslie: 471 circuit judges and recorders have undergone the additional specialist training that enables them to hear cases of rape and other serious sexual offences.
	The authorisation of individual circuit judges to try rape and other serious sexual offences is made by the senior presiding judge on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice. Such judges are identified by the presiding judges of each circuit. The judge must have wide and significant experience of the criminal justice system, and must have demonstrated the necessary sensitivity for these cases. Before dealing with these cases, specialist training is provided for them by the Judicial Studies Board.
	The withdrawal of a rape authorisation is decided by the Lord Chief Justice personally. The authorisation was withdrawn when the Court of Appeal criticised the way in which a trial judge had summed up a rape case to the jury. Such cases will no longer be listed before another judge who appears persistently to have ignored sentencing guideline decisions in such cases. For at least the last five years no authorisation has been withdrawn because of general concerns over any authorised circuit judge's ability to handle such sensitive cases. If there were evidence to suggest any lack of appropriate sensitivity it would be drawn to the attention of the Lord Chief Justice either by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) or by presiding judges or through the media, or by way of complaint.

Judges

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  how many complaints against judges the Lord Chancellor has heard in each of the previous five years; and what details of these complaints and the outcome are publicly available;
	(2)  what (a) complaints and (b) disciplinary procedures will be put in place after the abolition of the post of Lord Chancellor.

Christopher Leslie: The Lord Chancellor typically receives between 1,000 and 1,200 complaints about judges each year. The majority of these turn out to be complaints against judicial decisions and the complainant is advised that the appropriate remedy is by way of appeal. Those complaints which appear to relate to judicial conduct are investigated and both the complainant and the judge concerned are informed of the outcome. However, the results of this disciplinary process are not normally publicised more widely. Since May 1997, 27 judges have been reprimanded by the Lord Chancellor. These have included one High Court judge, 11 circuit judges, eight district judges, five recorders, and two deputy district judges.
	The Lord Chancellor is currently considering the future arrangements for judicial complaints and discipline and hopes to be in a position to announce these shortly.

Public Defender Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  what the set up costs were of each of the Public Defender Service's pilot offices;
	(2)  what assessment (a) he and (b) the Legal Services Commission has made of the average cost per case arising from the Public Defender Service's handling of criminal defence work in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03;
	(3)  what assessment (a) he and (b) the Legal Services Commission has made of the Public Defender Service's performance; and how this has informed decisions regarding the extension of those pilots.

David Lammy: The set up costs of the Public Defender Service (PDS) were as follows: Birmingham £193,312; Cheltenham £221,054; Darlington £126,867; Chester £175,225; Liverpool £141,663; Middlesbrough £166,479; Pontypridd £108,754; Swansea £254,014; Central £419,346. Total £1,806,714. These costs were reported in the first two PDS Annual Reports. Individual office costs include refurbishment, furniture, some IT hardware, software, office equipment and security systems. Central costs include purchase of case management system, integration into the Legal Services Commission (LSC) IT network, recruitment and induction.
	Assessment of the average cost per case in the PDS is one element of an extensive Methodology (the Methodology Paper can be found at www. legalservices.gov.uk or available on request) developed by the independent research team. The researchers began to collect data at the beginning of the second year of the four-year pilot and are due to report in 2005. A full assessment of average case costs will not be possible until all the research has been completed. In part, this is because the offices need to develop foil caseloads in order for the assessment to be undertaken. All offices began with no clients and full case loads can only be developed over time.
	The Department monitors the PDS by way of monthly reports from the LSC on the PDS and regularly meets with the LSC and the researchers. In order to better assess the performance of (he PDS the LSC, with the agreement of Ministers, increased the number of PDS offices from six to eight in 2003. Ministers will make a decision on the future of the PDS in the light of the research at the end of 2005. There are no current plans to open further offices but the Government and the LSC have always said that the PDS provides a flexible option to deliver criminal defence services where existing provision is low, or of poor quality.

Sentencing Policy

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what recent action has been taken to ensure consistency in sentencing; and what further action is planned.

Christopher Leslie: The Court of Appeal Criminal Division has issued sentencing guidelines in particular types of cases for over 20 years. They are widely publicised in legal journals and law reports. These decisions are also disseminated by the Judicial Studies Board during its regular seminars.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 establishes the Sentencing Guidelines Council which will take over the Court of Appeal's present responsibility for issuing sentencing guidelines. Parliament will have a role in considering and scrutinising the draft guidelines drawn up by the Council.
	The Council will be chaired by the Lord Chief Justice. It will have seven judicial members, drawn from every tier of court that deals with sentencing in criminal cases, and four non-judicial members (with experience of policing, criminal prosecution, criminal defence and the interests of victims). The Home Secretary will also appoint as an observer a person with experience of sentencing policy and the administration of sentences.
	In every individual case, the judge or magistrate will continue to make his or her own decision as to sentence, but will be required to have regard to the Council's guidelines.

Video Equipment

Vera Baird: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs, what system is in place to assess the impact of the quality of video facilities on the relative quality of evidence given in a case.

Christopher Leslie: An ongoing evaluation of all aspects of Special Measures provisions, including TV links, is being conducted by the Home Office. A report is due to be published by September 2004. Following visits to a number of courts and interviews with witnesses, initial findings have indicated that the new arrangements have been positively received and the quality of equipment is not an issue.

Voter Registration

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) illegal immigrants are registered to vote.

Christopher Leslie: This information is not collected. Such persons are not eligible to register to vote, with the exception that a person from a Commonwealth country who has leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom and subsequently claims asylum may register to vote until that existing leave ceases.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Fire and Rescue Service

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Buckinghamshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Somerset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Wiltshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what research has led him to the conclusion that the optimum suprabrigade structure for the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is one based on the existing Government Office South East Region.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Essex he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Robert Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Dorset he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Cambridgeshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

David Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Surrey he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.
	Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The Government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House.
	A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.

Fire and Rescue Service

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Thames Valley Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what community consultation he has held in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Buckinghamshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with Buckinghamshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire;
	(5)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Somerset Fire Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Somerset county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(4)  what community consultation he has held in Somerset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with the Avon and Somerset Police Authority on plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) Kent county council and (b) the Kent Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what community consultation he has held in Kent on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what community consultations he has held in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Wiltshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) Wiltshire county council and (b) Wiltshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Wiltshire's Fire and Rescue Service.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service; and what the conclusions of those discussions were;
	(2)  what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service.

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Cambridgeshire county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cambridgeshire's Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Cambridgeshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  what community consultation he has held in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Cambridgeshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what community consultation he has held in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Essex on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) Essex county council and (b) Essex Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

Robert Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Dorset Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what public consultation he has held in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with local authorities in Dorset on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

David Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Surrey Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Surrey county council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time firefighters in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(4)  what community consultation he has held in Surrey on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Surrey's Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the north east, the north west and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, regional management boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the chairs of individual fire authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004.
	In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and assistant chief fire officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework.

Fire and Rescue Service

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of job losses in the Somerset Fire Service which will result from the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset.

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Kent.

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cambridgeshire as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in the number of jobs in Essex Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Robert Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Dorset Fire and Rescue Service consequent upon the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

David Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of job losses in Surrey Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The Government has no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned.

Fire and Rescue Service

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Buckinghamshire without the consent of Buckinghamshire County Council.

Adrian Flook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Somerset without the consent of Somerset Fire Service.

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Wiltshire without the consent of Wiltshire County Council.

Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service without the consent of Surrey County Council.

James Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire without the consent of Cambridgeshire County Council.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Essex without the consent of Essex County Council.

Robert Syms: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Dorset.

David Wilshire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Surrey without the consent of Surrey County Council.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have no plans at present to regionalise the Fire and Rescue service in the constituencies of the hon. Members. Their local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service, but no referendum is currently planned for any region other than the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and Humberside. All local Fire and Rescue Authorities are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected.

Fire and Rescue Service

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what reseach relating to Cheshire he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research relating to Humberside he has commissioned to provide the evidential basis for his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	The Government's conclusions about the benefits of a regional approach to the delivery of services are set out in the White Paper, and are informed by a number of reviews of the service, culminating in the report of the Independent Review of the Fire Service published in December 2002. These reports are listed in the White Paper.
	Since then, further reports have been published which indicate the benefits of a regional approach. The Mott MacDonald report on the "Future of Fire and Rescue Service Control Rooms in England and Wales", published in December 2003, concluded that the optimum solution to secure efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of fire and rescue service control rooms would be nine control rooms in England matched to the areas of the Government Offices for the Regions. The government broadly accepts the conclusions of Mott MacDonald report, and is consulting on implementation. Copies of the report and a related one by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate are available in the Library of the House.
	A recent report by Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate also concluded that local purchasing arrangements based on individual preferences are not the most efficient means of obtaining goods, services and equipment. A copy of this report is available in the Library of the House.

Fire and Rescue Service

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what community consultation he has held in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Humberside on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the East Riding of Yorkshire Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service;
	(5)  what discussions he has had with the Humberside Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise Cheshire's Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Cheshire County Council on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(3)  what discussions he has had with the Cheshire Police Authority on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with (a) retained and (b) full-time fire-fighters in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service; and what their advice was;
	(5)  what community consultation he has held in Cheshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service.

Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what community consultation he has held in Humberside and East Yorkshire on his plans to regionalise the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  whom he has consulted on the plans to regionalise the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level. Our intention is that voters in the three northern regions should have an opportunity this autumn to vote in a referendum on whether they wish to establish an Elected Regional Assembly for their region.
	The Government are currently consulting on their draft National Framework for the Fire and Rescue Service. Those to whom the document has been sent include the Chairs of individual Fire Authorities, the Local Government Association and a wide range of bodies representing both retained and full time staff. Police authorities have not been specifically consulted, but comments from all stakeholders are invited by 12 March 2004.
	In addition, all aspects of fire modernisation are discussed when we meet interested parties from time to time in the course of our ministerial duties. Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers from nearly all the Fire and Rescue Authorities in Great Britain attended the 3 December 2003 Fire and Rescue Service seminar addressed by myself and my hon. Friend the Member for Corby; and officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are engaged in a rolling programme of visits to local Fire and Rescue Services to discuss the draft National Framework.

Fire and Rescue Service

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what change in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the change in job numbers in the Humberside Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the job losses in Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service;
	(2)  what reduction in the number of managerial jobs he expects to result from the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire.

Greg Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the job losses in Humberside, including east Yorkshire, as a result of the proposed regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808) made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	Under the Regional Management Board arrangements, staff numbers will continue to be a matter for the individual Fire and Rescue Authority employers concerned. Where Regional Fire and Rescue Authorities are established, staff numbers will similarly be a matter for the new body. But a reduction in the number of individual Fire and Rescue Authorities is expected to lead to a reduction in the number of senior posts.

Fire and Rescue Service

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Humberside without the consent of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what powers he would implement the regionalisation of the Fire and Rescue Service in Cheshire without the consent of Cheshire County Council.

Nick Raynsford: The White Paper, "Our Fire and Rescue Service" (Cm 5808), made clear that where voters choose to have an Elected Regional Assembly, there will be a Regional Fire and Rescue Service. Until this occurs, local Fire and Rescue Authorities will continue to be responsible for the service. They are, however, expected to establish, by 1 April 2004, Regional Management Boards to deliver the functions which are most efficiently and effectively performed at a regional level.
	I hope these voluntary arrangements will succeed. There are, however, provisions in the Fire and Rescue Services Bill currently before the House to strengthen and streamline the power that already exists, in section 6 of the Fire Services Act 1947, to combine Fire and Rescue Authorities following consultation with the existing authorities and other persons affected.
	Provision for the establishment of a Regional Fire and Rescue Authority following a 'yes' vote in a referendum will be included in the proposed English Regional Assemblies Bill, a draft of which we will do our best to publish before the referendums in autumn 2004.

House Fire Deaths

Iris Robinson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deaths from house fires there were in the United Kingdom in 2003.

Nick Raynsford: The latest information available is for the calendar year 2002. The provisional UK figure for the number of deaths in dwelling fires in that period is 443. Of the 443 deaths in dwelling fires reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister by Fire and Rescue Services in the UK in 2002, 364 were in accidental dwelling fires. This was 71 fewer than in 2001. Deaths in dwelling fires are now 21 per cent. below the level reported in 1997, and are the lowest on record.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much social housing grant was spent by (a) the Housing Corporation and (b) local authorities in each region in (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03.

Keith Hill: Social housing grant (SHG) spent through the Housing Corporation's approved development programme (ADP) and local authority social housing grant (LASHG) for each region in 2001–02 and 2002–03 is tabled as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 
			  ADP LASHG ADP LASHG 
		
		
			 London 341.5 112.5 423.9 119.9 
			 South East 93.5 140.9 113.1 186.2 
			 South West 51.1 58.2 62.4 68.3 
			 East 51.6 58.7 62.5 15.2 
			 East Midlands 34.4 12.7 39.5 72.4 
			 West Midlands 58.5 15.2 64.6 19.6 
			 Yorkshire & Humberside 47.7 3.3 49.2 6.2 
			 North East 23.2 0.5 22.4 0.8 
			 North West 51.6 7.0 57.5 7.5 
			 Merseyside 21.4 1.4 24.8 3.0 
			 Total 774.6 410.4 919.9 499.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Housing Corporation

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social housing units were built with social housing grants by (a) the Housing Corporation, (b) local authorities and (c) registered social landlords without public subsidy, in each year since 1990.

Keith Hill: Estimates of the number of new social housing dwellings provided each year since 1991–2 are tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of social housing units built or otherwise acquired by RSLs with public subsidy Number of social units built by Las with public subsidy Number of units built by RSLs without public subsidy 
			  Column A Column B Column C 
		
		
			 1991–2 29,525 7,113 N/a 
			 1992–3 68,192 2,579 1,126 
			 1993–4 64,834 1,451 1,137 
			 1994–5 70,720 853 815 
			 1995–6 69,397 757 1,964 
			 1996–7 53,840 451 1,449 
			 1997–8 49,258 323 2,434 
			 1998–9 43,141 194 2,200 
			 1999–2000 34,373 102 2,964 
			 2000–1 31,339 389 3,495 
			 2001–2 30,605 80 3,699 
			 2002–3 31,074 271 2,995 
		
	
	Notes
	1. The figures in column A relate to the number of social dwellings acquired by RSLs with public subsidy—including new build. Separate figures on RSL new build are not available.
	2. The types of dwellings shown include self-contained dwellings and bedspaces.
	Data Sources:
	Column A: Housing Corporation Stewardship Reports, Approved Development Programme, Local Authority Sponsored Programme, Revenue Grants & Voted Expenditure
	Column B: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, P2 returns from Local Authorities
	Column C: Housing Corporation, Regulatory and Statistical Return

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to publish (a) Table S127 (A1.24) Difference from the Bedroom Standard by Tenure, (b) Table S132 (A1.29) Trends in Difference from the Bedroom Standard 1984 to 2001–02 and (c) Table S140 (A9.6) Difference from the Bedroom Standard by Government Office Region from the Survey of English Housing 2001–02.

Yvette Cooper: All of these tables have already been published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and they are available in the Library of the House. It is not intended to publish them in a printed report.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tewkesbury of 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 501W, on the tenancy deposit scheme, what the outcome was of the seminar held in December to discuss the case for linking legislation for compulsory measures to protect tenancy deposits to the Law Commission's findings.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is pleased to say that the seminar held on 19 December achieved a good attendance from those representing landlords, tenants, local authorities and housing professionals. It appeared to achieve a widespread understanding among those attending of the need to steer a course that considered the scope for linking legislation for compulsory measures to protect tenancy deposits to a need for written agreements for all tenants. A need for all tenants to have written agreements was proposed in the Law Commission's report 'Renting Homes' published in November.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of the papers presented at the seminar held in December to discuss the case for linking legislation for compulsory measures to protect tenancy deposits to the Law Commission's findings.

Keith Hill: With the approval of their authors the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will do so.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will introduce a statutory national tenancy deposit scheme.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering in the light of the seminar of 19 December a full response to our consultation a year ago with the results of our consideration of proposals for future measures to provide for tenancy deposit protection that could encompass a range of approved but mandatory schemes.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account his Department asked the Law Commission to take of the issue of protecting tenancy deposits as part of its project on tenure reform; and what evidence the Law Commission requested from consultees on this issue.

Keith Hill: The Law Commission consultation paper 162 of May 2002 stated in paragraph 1.85 that:
	"The question of whether or not tenancy deposits should be regulated, and if so how—an issue covered in the legislation of many Commonwealth jurisdictions 38—is not considered here. It is currently the subject of pilot projects being run by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions."
	In the Law Commission's interim response to this consultation, their paper 284 of November 2003 stated in paragraph 2.27 that:
	"During the period of our consultation, we were aware that schemes relating to tenancy deposits were being tested and evaluated by ODPM. In 2003, the outcome of this evaluation was produced. It has become clear that policy makers see considerable potential for building contractual obligations relating to the taking and repayment of deposits into the scheme we are proposing, even though we did not consider the issue as part of our project."
	Further on in that report, in a footnote to paragraph 8.14 on key terms it is stated:
	"We have considered whether we should recommend that the Secretary of State include in the secondary legislation a default term about whether fixtures and chattels are included in the agreement and whether an inventory must be provided. This issue ties in closely with work ODPM are doing on the regulation of deposits (as disputes are often about the existence or state of items which could have been listed in an inventory to avoid disputes). We do not wish to prejudge that work by proposing that there should be a compulsory minimum term on this issue in the Act."
	Following the seminar on 19 December we are considering with the Law Commission how proposals for future provisions on the safeguarding of tenancy deposits could mesh in with what the Law Commission are proposing with regard to compulsory written agreements for all tenants.

Housing

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment of the possible potential savings to health and social care budgets he has made from ensuring that a percentage of all new housing has wheelchair access; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: All newly built homes must meet the requirements of Tart M' of the building regulations, which the Government revised in 1999 to improve the visitibility and convenience of new housing. The revised regulations include requirements to ensure that entrances, lifts, corridors, doorways and WCs are accessible, including to wheelchair users. The provisions are expected to enable occupants to cope better with reducing mobility and to live longer in their own homes, although not necessarily to facilitate folly independent living for all disabled people.
	In addition, all new build schemes funded by the Government through the Housing Corporation must comply with the Corporation's scheme development standards, which adopt additional criteria for accessibility and internal environments.
	No assessment has been made of the potential costs and benefits of setting a target for a proportion of all new housing to have particular standards of wheelchair access.

Housing

Andrew Love: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures the Department will take to increase the number of new houses suitable for those who are wheelchair users.

Yvette Cooper: All newly built homes must currently meet the requirements of 'Part M' of the building regulations, which the Government revised in 1999 to improve the visitibility and convenience of new housing. The revised regulations include requirements to ensure that entrances, lifts, corridors, doorways and WCs are accessible, including to wheelchair users. The provisions are expected to enable occupants to cope better with reducing mobility and to live longer in their own homes, although not necessarily to facilitate fully independent living for all disabled people.
	In addition, all new build schemes funded by the Government through the Housing Corporation must comply with the Corporation's scheme development standards which adopt additional criteria for accessibility and internal environments.

Housing

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy on the building of houses on flood plains.

Keith Hill: Policy is contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 25: Development and Flood Risk, published in July 2001.

Housing

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with planning inspectors about the building of houses in flood plains; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Hill: Officials at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have briefed Planning Inspectors on the policies dealing with housing and flooding out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 3 (Housing) and 25 (Development and Flood Risk). They also provide on request advice to the Inspectorate centrally and to individual Inspectors on questions about the policy stated in these documents, but not on the interpretation of policy in cases.

Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether local planning authorities can refuse new housing applications in areas where (a) sewage and (b) flooding problems are known to exist.

Keith Hill: Problems with sewage and flooding are material considerations in whether nor not to approve new housing applications, and local planning authorities should refuse permission where these cannot be satisfactorily resolved. Guidance on sewerage is given in paragraph 19 of Annex 3 to Planning Policy Guidance Note 23: Planning and Pollution Control. The fact that flood risk is a criterion in allocating land in plans for housing development is stated in paragraph 31 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing, and the suitability of land at different levels of risk from flooding for residential development is set out in Table 1 of Planning Policy Guidance Note 25: Development and Flood Risk.

Local Government

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value of the formula spending share for (a) each older person and (b) each older person for deprivation is for each local authority in 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: Older people form part of the population figures used to calculate several of the formula spending shares (FSS) formula, the exceptions being the education formulae and the children and younger adults social service formulae. Specific provision for older people is made in the FSS formula for older peoples social services.
	The figures in the table detail the FSS and the deprivation top up per older person for the older peoples social services FSS for each social services/education authority, as announced in the 2004–05 provisional local government finance on 19 November 2003. The figures are taken from the 'Simple Presentation' guide to the funding formulae, which is available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/simppres/index.htm
	
		
			  Per person aged 64+ 
			  Older peoples PSS FSS (£) Deprivation top-up(£) 
		
		
			 Greater London   
			
			 City of London 1,250.33 214.72 
			
			 Camden 1,309.32 401.91 
			 Greenwich 1,127.70 276.75 
			 Hackney 1,605.50 568.80 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,200.62 323.00 
			 Islington 1,477.87 502.90 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,007.60 225.88 
			 Lambeth 1,247.17 358.72 
			 Lewisham 1,180.40 310.73 
			 Southwark 1,306.77 385.16 
			 Tower Hamlets 1,594.33 580.19 
			 Wandsworth 1,175.43 310.23 
			 Westminster 1,170.24 315.31 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 995.35 341.34 
			 Barnet 814.64 153.88 
			 Bexley 637.91 93.67 
			 Brent 954.02 250.31 
			 Bromley 579.37 58.49 
			 Croydon 695.21 124.45 
			 Baling 918.08 227.65 
			 Enfield 777.32 187.18 
			 Haringey 1,045.02 380.54 
			 Harrow 818.21 152.77 
			 Havering 620.37 107.36 
			 Hilllngdon 743.08 128.17 
			 Hounslow 899.35 220.07 
			 Kingston upon Thames 699.56 70.87 
			 Merton 747.16 113.29 
			 Newham 1,244.00 509.94 
			 Redbridge 783.44 191.70 
			 Richmond upon Thames 729.58 91.37 
			 Sutton 712.02 104.05 
			 Waltham Forest 975.41 329.38 
			
			 Greater Manchester 
			 Bolton 785.77 299.72 
			 Bury 701.35 240.34 
			 Manchester 1,036.28 460.77 
			 Oldham 783.95 300.79 
			 Rochdale 782.04 305.01 
			 Salford 943.00 412.32 
			 Stockport 626.41 166.45 
			 Tameside 812.00 323.41 
			 Trafford 678.37 198.05 
			 Wigan 817.59 331.12 
			
			 Merseyside   
			 Knowsley 975.12 451.14 
			 Liverpool 1,038.01 474.65 
			 Sefton 711.71 243.63 
			 St. Helens 813.46 333.77 
			 Wirral 728.50 256.05 
			
			 South Yorkshire   
			 Barnsley 805.21 343.56 
			 Doncaster 718.25 272.37 
			 Rotherham 806.30 337.13 
			 Sheffield 827.51 328.44 
			
			 Tyne and Wear 
			 Gateshead 809.58 332.07 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 863.77 360.07 
			 North Tyneside 730.97 270.63 
			 South Tyneside 816.95 339.55 
			 Sunderland 865.88 393.13 
			 West Midlands   
			 Birmingham 909.52 358.32 
			 Coventry 728.03 234.96 
			 Dudley 737.07 249.57 
			 Sandwell 923.57 370.82 
			 Solihull 572.60 110.87 
			 Walsall 836.37 324.78 
			 Wolverhampton 854.15 313.93 
			
			 West Yorkshire   
			 Bradford 707.96 247.80 
			 Calderdale 657.33 202.06 
			 Kirklees 674.62 217.90 
			 Leeds 707.10 227.86 
			 Wakefield 790.94 312.02 
			
			 All purpose authorities 
			 Bath & North East Somerset 589.70 96.49 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 781.94 328.20 
			 Blackpool 716.53 260.00 
			 Bournemouth 642.01 157.92 
			 Bracknell Forest 704.00 124.22 
			 Brighton & Hove 680.77 187.47 
			 Bristol 795.84 263.46 
			 Darlington 637.33 203.91 
			 Derby 692.93 254.59 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 557.39 125.02 
			 Halton 856.64 354.30 
			 Hartlepool 765.48 326.05 
			 Herefordshire 566.21 108.42 
			 Isle of Wight Council 572.08 81.67 
			 Kingston upon Hull 867.79 383.55 
			 Leicester 841.05 314.67 
			 Luton 697.80 191.20 
			 Medway 588.58 129.57 
			 Middlesbrough 767.08 318.07 
			 Milton Keynes 775.45 219.09 
			 North East Lincolnshire 641.00 203.41 
			 North Lincolnshire 601.90 163.52 
			 North Somerset 589.65 119.91 
			 Nottingham 821.48 333.59 
			 Peterborough 711.65 213.75 
			 Plymouth 701.82 230.03 
			 Poole 526.16 79.08 
			 Portsmouth 667.97 152.05 
			 Reading 694.81 102.05 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 678.12 246.01 
			 Rutland 482.05 48.40 
			 Slough 829.50 180.84 
			 South Gloucestershire 562.02 99.80 
			 Southampton 696.02 172.86 
			 Southend-on-Sea 662.31 175.38 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 665.64 230.24 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 790.19 322.14 
			 Swindon 630.16 161.57 
			 Telford and the Wrekin 746.18 272.90 
			 Thurrock 728.42 184.77 
			 Torbay 651.80 183.78 
			 Warrington 697.92 228.14 
			
			 West Berkshire 608.91 47.58 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 609.77 46.08 
			 Wokingham 505.45 0.00 
			 York 529.34 97.87 
			
			 Isles of Scilly 872.91 43.62 
			
			 Shire counties   
			 Bedfordshire 624.41 127.35 
			 Buckinghamshire 609.21 70.88 
			 Cambridgeshire 621.59 119.84 
			 Cheshire 606.21 139.42 
			 Cornwall 607.63 149.60 
			 Cumbria 637.52 178.85 
			 Derbyshire 698.16 237.86 
			 Devon 545.11 89.94 
			 Dorset 467.15 27.82 
			 Durham 801.57 331.81 
			 East Sussex 524.95 58.11 
			 Essex 599.47 118.99 
			 Gloucestershire 575.49 102.39 
			 Hampshire 522.13 46.62 
			 Hertfordshire 695.38 137.97 
			 Kent 579.19 103.65 
			 Lancashire 626.52 190.49 
			 Leicestershire 540.27 98.80 
			 Lincolnshire 549.66 120.10 
			 Norfolk 552.13 106.54 
			 North Yorkshire 541.03 98.20 
			 Northamptonshire 629.34 155.17 
			 Northumberland 667.33 208.86 
			 Nottinghamshire 617.79 175.61 
			 Oxfordshire 632.61 90.29 
			 Shropshire 624.37 160.28 
			 Somerset 554.02 98.00 
			 Staffordshire 625.36 183.52 
			 Suffolk 573.68 120.69 
			 Surrey 601.93 33.40 
			 Warwickshire 639.95 155.15 
			 West Sussex 531.18 41.37 
			 Wiltshire 564.68 82.60 
			 Worcestershire 600.19 150.01

Sustainable Communities

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses have been built under plans for the development of the (a) Milton Keynes, (b) Ashford and (c) Stansted Corridor Sustainable Communities; how many are social housing; how many houses will be built; and how many will be social housing.

Yvette Cooper: The Sustainable Communities plan was published in February 2003. The most recent annual housebuilding figures for the districts contained within the housing growth areas are for the year to September 2003.
	
		
			 Growth Area New build housing completions year to September 2003 
		
		
			 Milton Keynes South Midlands 6,622 
			 London Stansted Cambridge 4974 
			 Ashford 678 
		
	
	It should be noted that these figures are for new build only and do not include net additions to the housing stock derived from conversions and change of use less demolitions. Full net additions data for 2003–04 will be available in October 2004.
	Plans are at a different stage in each of the three growth areas. In Milton Keynes South Midlands, regional partners published a draft Sub Regional Strategy on 18 July 2003. This sets out plans for around 133,400 homes in the period 2001–16. These plans will be subject to examination in public and the consideration of the Secretary of State before incorporation into Regional Planning Guidance. Similarly, in July 2003, the South East England Regional Assembly published their proposed alterations to Regional Planning Guidance for Ashford, including a total of 13,100 homes in the period 2001–16. An examination in public was held in December 2003, and the panel is due to report in February 2004.
	In London Stansted Cambridge, plans for the growth area are being considered as part of the development of RPG14 for the East of England, and the London Plan, and its Sub Regional Development Frameworks. A first draft of RPG14 is expected to be produced by the East of England Regional Assembly in February 2004.
	The Government does not set annual targets centrally for local authorities on either affordable or social housing. Planning policies for affordable housing are set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3, "Housing", and in Circular 6/98, "Planning for Affordable Housing". They advise that where local planning authorities are able to demonstrate a lack of affordable housing to meet local needs, based on up-to-date surveys and other data, they should indicate in their local plan how many affordable homes need to be provided throughout the plan area, and set indicative targets for specific suitable sites (expressed either as numbers of homes or a percentage of the homes on the site). Local planning authorities should be monitoring their performance against their local plan policies and targets, but this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Telecoms Companies

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of how much will be paid back to telecommunications companies in respect of appeals against business rates in England and Wales made since the conclusion of the administrative period for the 2000 list.

Phil Hope: None. The 2000–05 rating lists are still open to appeals by ratepayers against their rateable values. It is for the National Assembly for Wales to comment on the position in Wales.

Telecoms Companies

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many appeals by telecommunications companies in respect of the (a) 1995 and (b) 2000 list valuations remain outstanding.

Phil Hope: At the end of 2003, the numbers of outstanding appeals in England for telecommunication properties on a) the 1995–2000 lists and b) the 2000–05 lists were respectively a) 1,013 and b) 11,248. These figures include both telecommunication properties on the central rating list (in respect of which payments of rates are made direct to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister), and properties such as telecommunication masts, telephone kiosks, telephone exchanges on the local rating lists (where payments are made to local authorities, and then forwarded by them to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister).
	In the case of Wales, it is matter for the National Assembly for Wales.